Anti-Drug Activist, Maryrose Fealey's 'Signature Bright Smile Was Unforgettable'

SOMERVILLE, NJ — Maryrose Fealey, 27, of Somerville, "was many things – a visual artist, anti-drug activist, entrepreneur, champion of the underdog, philanthropist, encourager, writer, and logistician."

Fealey was fatally stabbed multiple times outside of her townhome on Jan. 30.

"This world may 'not be an easy fix, but there is always hope!' Maryrose will be profoundly missed as we are all heartbroken by her passing and loved her to the moon and back. It’s a time to hold our loved ones a little closer and tell the people we love that we love them because tomorrow isn’t promised and events like this show you how fragile life is. Let us always value the importance of coming together as a community to share support and kindness," according to an obituary on bridgewaterfuneralhome.com.

A 2018 graduate of Rutgers Business School, Fealey was a Logistics Management Specialist who focused on logistics, decentralization, material and supply chain management. She previously worked as a federal employee for the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) before taking a break from her profession to focus on her life’s mission work as she called it.

She also did weekend work at Roman Jewelers in Bridgewater.

"Friends and family often described Maryrose as a 'light' in the room or in their day whenever they spoke of her. Her signature bright smile was unforgettable. She was one to 'show up' and to be supportive, bringing positive energy, willingness, and kindness to any task at hand," according to her obituary.

Her passion project was to empower youth and those battling addiction.

Founder of the non-profit 4TheYoungerMe (4TYM), Fealey also was involved with the non-profits Not An Easy Fix and Empower Somerset (Next-Of-Kin/NOK interviewer). She firmly believed that "substance abuse does not define the person" and that "a toxic environment does not define the child’s future," acoording to her obituary.

In August 2022, Fealey and her brother Ian were impactful key speakers sharing their stories at a Not An Easy Fix community event and in 2023 they were featured in Not An Easy Fix’s DJ Choices assembly programs in Somerset County schools bringing strong preventative and informative anti-drug messages to more than 1,500 students.

Fealey always left her audiences with the message "It’s not an easy fix, but there’s always hope!"

Fealey leaves behind her adoring parents Janet Pizzelli and Jim Fealey, her brother Ian and his wife Tiffany Fealey. She is predeceased by her sister Marisa Rose. She will be deeply missed by numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.

Your flower gifts are very welcome as Fealey loved them and they brought her joy. She would often stop to buy them on her way home, according to her obituary.

Also, any donations by family and friends given in her name to Not An Easy Fix (visit notaneasyfix.org – click on homepage Donation button) would be greatly appreciated.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at the Bridgewater Funeral Home, 707 E. Main Street, Bridgewater. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the St. John's Episcopal Church, 158 W. High Street, Somerville.

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