Mrs. Marie E. Simon Dies at 68; Beloved 'Mayor of Fogarty Ave.'

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Mrs. Marie E. Simon Dies at 68; Beloved 'Mayor of Fogarty Ave.' - Camden Courier-Post, February 25, 1959
Camden Courier-Post, February 25, 1959
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'Mame' Always Good for Handout Mrs. Marie E. Simon Dies at 68; Beloved 'Mayor of Fogarty Ave.' By ALEX WATSON Friend of an earlier generation of newspapermen, Mrs. Marie E. Simon, 68, of 20 Fogarty ave., died Tuesday in West Jersey Hospital. To the survivors of that generation, Mrs. Simon was known as "Mame Kenney," her maiden name. And the neighbors had dubbed her the "Mayor of Fogarty Ave." There wasn't any wrong in her domain that Mame didn't try to set right, either by arbitration, a call to City Hall, or to a newspaper. And Mame's heart was as big as her voice which boomed in no uncertain terminology when things didn't go right. Mame in the Middle Fogarty ave. is a block of brick row houses running from Federal to Carman st. between 9th and 10th sts. The residents can shake hands across the street and it's strictly one-way traffic — either way. Everybody knows everybody else's troubles and Mame stood right in the middle of them. Mame liked newspapermen, she said, because they "could give me a slant on what's going on." It was a red letter day when she could invite them in for coffee and a sandwich, or a drink, and get the latest gossip on City Hall. She had decided views on politics and the reporters found grist for copy in her shrewd observations. Generous Heart Mame's generous heart extended to the down-and-outer and the bottle-ganger. A knock on her door always brought a hand-out of food, a piece of clothing and perhaps the price of a drink. Mrs. Simon was a lifelong resident of Camden. She was a member of Women's Order of the Moose, Chapter 385; Saranac Council, 79, Order of Pocahontas, IORM; and American Legion Post 231 Auxiliary. Surviving are a son, Thomas J., of Laurel Springs; three brothers, Thomas P., and James J. Kenney, of Camden and Martin F. Kenney, of Moorestown, and two grandchildren. Relatives and friends will meet at 8:30 a. m. Friday in the Robert J. Blake Funeral Home, Haddon ave. and Division st. Requiem high Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 o'clock in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A viewing will be held Thursday night at the funeral home. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

'Mame' Always Good for Handout

By ALEX WATSON

Friend of an earlier generation of newspapermen, Mrs. Marie E. Simon, 68, of 20 Fogarty ave., died Tuesday in West Jersey Hospital.

To the survivors of that generation, Mrs. Simon was known as "Mame Kenney," her maiden name. And the neighbors had dubbed her the "Mayor of Fogarty Ave."

There wasn't any wrong in her domain that Mame didn't try to set right, either by arbitration, a call to City Hall, or to a newspaper. And Mame's heart was as big as her voice which boomed in no uncertain terminology when things didn't go right.

Mame in the Middle

Fogarty ave. is a block of brick row houses running from Federal to Carman st. between 9th and 10th sts. The residents can shake hands across the street and it's strictly one-way traffic — either way. Everybody knows everybody else's troubles and Mame stood right in the middle of them.

Mame liked newspapermen, she said, because they "could give me a slant on what's going on." It was a red letter day when she could invite them in for coffee and a sandwich, or a drink, and get the latest gossip on City Hall. She had decided views on politics and the reporters found grist for copy in her shrewd observations.

Generous Heart

Mame's generous heart extended to the down-and-outer and the bottle-ganger. A knock on her door always brought a hand-out of food, a piece of clothing and perhaps the price of a drink.

Mrs. Simon was a lifelong resident of Camden. She was a member of Women's Order of the Moose, Chapter 385; Saranac Council, 79, Order of Pocahontas, IORM; and American Legion Post 231 Auxiliary.

Surviving are a son, Thomas J., of Laurel Springs; three brothers, Thomas P., and James J. Kenney, of Camden and Martin F. Kenney, of Moorestown, and two grandchildren.

Relatives and friends will meet at 8:30 a. m. Friday in the Robert J. Blake Funeral Home, Haddon ave. and Division st. Requiem high Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 o'clock in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A viewing will be held Thursday night at the funeral home. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

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