Meet the Resident Who Helps Glen Rock Couples Say “I Do”
Rev. Maureen Jeffries has been a part of Glen Rock since July 1, 1999, the day she and her family moved into town. Over the last 26 years, she’s officiated weddings, baby blessings, and funerals for friends, neighbors, and fellow residents. She helps guide them through life’s most important milestones with compassion and care.
One of her most touching Glen Rock moments came exactly 20 years after she first arrived. She officiated the wedding of Charlotte Wilkinson, daughter of Victoria Wilkinson, the real estate agent who had helped her family find their home. The wedding took place on July 1, 2019, marking two decades in Glen Rock with a true full-circle celebration.
Rev. Jeffries is known locally not just as a wedding officiant but as someone people turn to when they’re unsure where to go. “As more and more people leave traditional religious institutions, it’s hard to know what to do when we have life-altering events,” she said. “I can help navigate the way.” From meaningful backyard weddings to heartfelt memorials, she acts as a mirror to the beliefs of those she serves.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought that flexibility into sharp focus. When city services were backlogged, couples from out of town started calling her, asking if she could marry them in New Jersey. Her answer was simple: come to Glen Rock. She married couples from Brooklyn and Staten Island at the Duck Pond and beneath the big tree on the Borough Hall lawn, often walking with them right after the ceremony to drop off paperwork. “2020 was a crazy year,” she said, “but Glen Rock became a beautiful place for these tiny, spontaneous weddings.”
One of her most memorable Glen Rock ceremonies took place inside the Glen Rock Library. When Hurricane Henri made an outdoor wedding at the Arboretum impossible, the library staff stepped in. “It was romantic and cozy,” she recalled. “We even had a sparkling cider toast with the librarians.” In the rush, the couple’s hand-fastening cord was forgotten, so Rev. Jeffries used her own stole to wrap their hands. They later recreated the moment at their larger celebration at the Hermitage.
Another standout event was the backyard wedding of her longtime friends Maureen and Kevin. With 100 guests, a tent, music from The Connolly Brothers, and food from The Brownstone, it was a joyful Glen Rock affair. “I’ve known them for over 20 years,” she said. “It’s weird being Rev. Jeffries at work and then just Maureen to my friends. My worlds collided.”
Over the years, she has also officiated funerals for Glen Rock families, especially during times of personal and shared loss. After losing her own mother last year, Rev. Jeffries found herself walking alongside friends who were grieving their own parents. “Having a friend who is a minister can be a comfort,” she said.
Though she occasionally works outside of town, it’s the Glen Rock community that has shaped her most. She met some of her closest friends through Newcomers and Neighbors and the St. Catharine’s Mother’s Group, and her deep ties here continue to grow.
“I love that we have such a strong sense of community,” she said. “Glen Rock is truly home.”