Sophie Maissen

Sophie Maissen (nee Mueller), age 94, of Teaneck, NJ, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 19, 2021. She is predeceased by her parents, siblings, and beloved husband, Nicholas Maissen. Sophie is survived by her adoring daughters, Nancy St. James (with husband Michael) and Cindy Kirkpatrick (with husband Phil), as well as cherished granddaughters, Catherine and Victoria St. James. Sophie was born in Switzerland on September 25, 1927. She was one of fourteen children and developed a strong work ethic in her early years. With a desire to learn English and better her life, Sophie traveled to London. She eventually voyaged across the Atlantic to make America her permanent home. Once in the United States, Sophie worked as a governess in New York City. She formed many wonderful friendships along the way. Sophie briefly returned to Switzerland to marry the love of her life, Nicholas. Together, they returned to New York in search of the American Dream. Sophie believed in the power of a good education. “Use your brain” was a common expression of hers. While she was a pioneer, Sophie’s faith and family life came first. She was the epitome of resiliency and kindness, instilling these core values in her children. Sophie took her job as a crossing guard very seriously. She never missed a day of work in her 10 years of service to the Teaneck community. Former pupils would bump into Sophie around town and give her a hug as they fondly recalled her encouraging words and warm smile. When her first grandchild was born, Sophie hung up her stop sign to take on her most prized role—that of grandmother. From then on, she affectionately became known as “Oma”. Catherine and Victoria were huge fans of Oma’s cooking, especially her French toast and Spätzle. Oma and her girls shared a special bond that could be witnessed on their trips to local diners. In true Swiss fashion, Oma loved chocolate and was ALWAYS on time. She contributed her longevity to the “four Cs”: coffee, cards, car rides, and casinos. Oma was fiercely independent and never backed away from getting her hands dirty. She could be seen raking leaves or shoveling snow well into her 90s. When she wasn’t outside, Sophie would spend her downtime completing word search puzzles. She enjoyed listening to her favorite classical musicians—Bach, Strauss, and perhaps the greatest of them all, André Rieu. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 21st from 5:00-9:00 PM at Volk Leber Funeral Home, 789 Teaneck Road in Teaneck, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Anastasia R.C. Church, 1095 Teaneck Road in Teaneck, NJ, on Thursday, December 23rd at 10:00 AM. Interment to follow at Maryrest Cemetery, 770 Darlington Avenue in Mahwah, NJ. Sophie’s family is most appreciative of the prayers and support sent to them by dear family and friends. They also have immense gratitude for the care and compassion she received from the Villa Marie Claire staff at Holy Name. Oma’s unbreakable spirit left a remarkable impression upon everyone she met, including her doctors who commented that she is their role model. Her legacy is unparalleled and has been a constant source of inspiration. As a driving force, Sophie led with humility. May we all be like Oma and find that same great joy in serving others.

Sophie Maissen

September 25, 1927 - December 19, 2021