Maribelle Garris MacAlpin, age 87, of Hackettstown, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2024 at Hackettstown Regional Hospital. She was surrounded the last week of her life by her beloved partner, loving daughters, granddaughters and grandson.

Maribelle was born October 25, 1936 in Daytona Beach, Florida, grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, married and raised her family in West Caldwell, New Jersey.

She lived her happiest years on her horse farm in Waymart, Pennsylvania and then Lake Ariel.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her dear husband, William Robert MacAlpin (1995), cherished son, W. Thomas MacAlpin (2014), and precious infant grandson, John Scott Hamer (1984).

Maribelle was employed from 1974 until she retired in 1996 at Essex County Courthouse as a court clerk and then later promoted to chief court clerk. She was loved, respected and admired by all who knew and worked with her.

Maribelle is survived by her beloved partner, Raymond Gallagher; loving daughters, Ellen Godino and husband Frank; Lisa Brosko and husband Mark, and son, Robert MacAlpin; beloved grandson, Brian Hamer and wife Kelly; beloved grandaughters, Stephanie Anderson and husband Ian; Jessica Brosko and partner Andrew Dospoto; and Alli Brosko and fiance, Whitney Lott. She is also survived by four precious great grandsons, John and Patrick Hamer, and Jack and Leo Anderson, and her much-loved Labradoodle, Bailey.
Maribelle always lived life to the fullest and loved her life on her farm in Waymart where she bred and showed her well-loved Paso Finos and made many, many friends in the equine community. She was known as a great horsewoman in the Paso world and attended and competed in many, many shows on her own and with her daughter, Lisa, and all three granddaughters.

She was devoted to her grandchildren and was very involved and loved every minute of their growing-up years. She was never without at least one dog, and there were many other assorted animals along the way.

Maribelle lit up a room (or barn or show arena), and was sweet, kind, funny and generous to a fault. She was truly loved by all the people who knew her. All our lives were brightened and so enhanced by her.

We know she is now riding her beautiful Pasos, surrounded by her family, her many dogs and watching over and protecting all of us.
Mommom, we all loved you better.

A private family memorial will be planned at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Helping Hearts Equine Rescue, https://greatnonprofits.org/org/helping-hearts-equine-rescue