Veronica Budrecki Mariani

Veronica Budrecki Mariani was born on March 24, 1932 in Elizabeth, NJ to Ignatius and Veronica (nee Svagzdys) Budrecki. She attended high school at the Benedictine Academy (Class of 1949) and graduated from St. Elizabeth's College with a major in history (Class of 1953). After graduation, she moved to Washington, DC to work for the Central Intelligence Agency as a Lithuanian and Russian translator. She met her husband, Theodore F. Mariani (Ted), through family and they had a 5 year courtship. She and Ted married at Saints Peter and Paul Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church in Elizabeth, NJ on September 26, 1959. After the birth of her daughter, Veronica Joan, she took a leave of absence from the CIA. She returned to the Agency after her son, Theodore Mark, started school. One of her great strengths was her diplomatic ability. She was called upon many times to referee disputes, in both professional and personal settings. She loved her job at the CIA, rising to research analyst on the Soviet Desk. She was stationed in Moscow in the summer of 1977 which allowed her to travel to many parts of the Soviet Union including to Lithuania. The CIA was an exciting place to work during the Cold War! In 1982 Veronica’s mother moved into the family’s home in Washington, DC. Veronica retired in 1983 to devote more time to her mother’s care. She was awarded the Intelligence Commendation Medal for her 22 years of service with the CIA.

In 1984 the family relocated to Oakdale Farm in Howard County Maryland. Veronica was active in many aspects of the community. She served on the St. Michael’s Church Council and the Howard County Human Rights Commission. She volunteered with the local republican club and other community organizations.

In 2020 Veronica and Ted moved to the Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, MD where she quickly made many new friends and participated in several of the on campus organizations.

Veronica enjoyed traveling within the United States and internationally. Her greatest joy was being with her immediate and extended family. She was an amazing hostess and chef; her holiday meals were legendary. She was an avid pinochle and scrabble player who loved to win; but also loved to teach and share her love of the games with others. She enjoyed many years of being an Olney Theater subscriber with her “co-madre”, Mary Lynn Reardon. One of her favorite past times was being “Grandma” to her grandson, John T. Reardon.

She will be remembered as a wonderful wife and mother, whose spirit of giving and sacrificing for others came naturally to her. Everyone who knew Veronica loved her.

She is survived by her husband, Theodore Frank Mariani, son Theodore Mark Mariani, daughter Veronica Joan Mariani Reardon, son-in-law John Devereux Reardon II and grandson John Theodore Saulius Reardon.

In lieu of flowers, donations to her alma mater would be appreciated, Saint Elizabeth University , 2 Convent Road, Morristown, NJ 07960-6989.