Marianthony Kiernan Hough

Marianthony (Mary) Hough, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend, and teacher, passed away on January 24, 2025. Her warmth, caring spirit, wise counsel, generosity, and humor will be greatly missed.

Mary was born and grew up in Montclair, New Jersey. She was the youngest of nine Kiernan children. Mary followed the traditions of the Kiernan siblings, attending Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, New Jersey, and then Seton Hall University, where she earned a degree in English. Later, she earned a Master’s degree in English & American Literature from New York University; a Master’s degree in Education Administration from St. Peter’s College; and a Doctorate Ed.D. in Literacy Education, Learning, & Teaching from Rutgers University.

Mary was a talented athlete, culminating in a successful basketball and softball career at Immaculate Conception High School. Mary earned First Team All Essex and All Parochial honors in basketball her senior year, All Essex and All Parochial honors in softball her senior year, and also was an Essex County Scholar Athlete her senior year. After high school, Mary shared her love of sports with students while coaching basketball at Immaculate Conception High School and Mother Seton High School in Clark, New Jersey.

Mary devoted her professional career to educating high school and college students, spending over 30 years in various teaching, curriculum, and administrative roles. She taught at multiple New Jersey high schools and universities, including Bloomfield Tech, Marine Academy of Environmental Science [MATES], Freehold Township, Manalapan, Seton Hall University and Rutgers University. Her passion was to support the kids in their educational journey, prepare them for adulthood, and help them achieve their highest potential. She received multiple awards including Teacher of the Year, OCVTS; District Teacher of the Year, Governor’s Recognition Award; and Rutgers GSE Digital Learning Fellowship Program Grant, in 2013. Mary helped write graduate courses for a Certificate Program in Educational Technology for Rutgers University Graduate School of Education, created and taught courses in Educational Technology and Reading at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education, and served on the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education Steering Committee for the new Ed.D. program (2009-2010). Mary also published various articles in the fields of Education and Learning.

Mary married Robert [Bob] Hough in 2002. They lived in Howell Township with their two sons, Brian and Matt, for 20 years until their recent move to Manahawkin. Mary extended her passion for education and sports as well as her Catholic faith to her two sons.

If you asked Mary to talk about her favorite memories, she would include, amongst others: being at the ball field with her husband Bob watching Brian’s and Matt’s games; being on the beach in Marshfield, Massachusetts with siblings, aunts, uncles, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins; enjoying a lobster roll and ice cream at the Green Harbor, Massachusetts marina; floating in the bay at Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park, New Jersey and taking endless pictures of the current day’s sunset; camping, shooting, canoeing, and fishing at the Campfire Club of America in Chappaqua, New York; playing rounds of golf with her boys, siblings, and friends; and the many wonderful celebrations of birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and other joyous life events with family and friends throughout the years.

Anyone who experienced Mary’s warmth, love, and generosity regarded it as an extraordinary blessing. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Robert (Bob) Hough; her parents, Peter and Marion Kiernan; her sister, Teresa (Teri) Carr (Patrick); and her sister, Maureen Kiernan.

Mary is survived by her sons Brian and Matt Hough, and her siblings, Peter Kiernan, Christopher Kiernan (Jeanmarie), Thomas Kiernan (Michele), James Kiernan (Margaret), Joseph Kiernan, and Diane Hoye (James). She is also survived by in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins in the Kiernan, Hough, and Dean families.

Visiting will be at the Prout Funeral Home in Verona, N.J. on Tuesday, January 28 from 4 to 8 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church in Montclair, N.J on Wednesday, January 29 at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Minette’s Angels Foundation, PO Box 94, Verona, NJ 07044 [minettesangels.org].