Their beloved mother was killed by a suspected drunk driver as she and her husband of 42 years, Albert, took their regular Sunday morning stroll along Frankford Avenue by Wissinoming Park in Philadelphia.
A man swerved his minivan onto the sidewalk, and Marquard managed to push her husband to safety as the out-of-control vehicle barreled down on them.
She couldn't get out of the way herself, was struck, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Albert was physically unharmed.
"She saved my dad," said daughter Denise Hirschman. "She pushed my dad out of the way. She saved my dad. That was what she cared about. She cared about us more than anything."
"If she didn't do it, it would have been both of them," said daughter Teresa Marquard.
"She saved my dad for us," said Denise.
Police have not yet released the name of the minivan driver. He remains in critical condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
At the crash scene, police said they suspected he was driving under the influence. Charges are pending as his critical medical situation continued Monday night.
Teresa Marquard worked for the Philadelphia Family Court. Neighbors held her and her family in high regard.
"She gave up herself for him. It's amazing. It goes to show you what kind of woman she was," neighbor Jimmy Berry told Action News.
"My mom, she's a hero," said daughter Monica Marquard. "And I'm very glad she saved my dad for us, because we'd be lost without both of them."
A viewing for Teresa Marquard has been set for Thursday evening. Funeral services will be held Friday morning.
The story is from WPVI-TV, our sister station in Philadelphia.
