Mrs. Marian S. Marra

Marian Marra Obituary Marian S. Marra, age 87 years, of Bethlehem, NY, passed away on December 29, 2016, at Kingsway Arms Nursing Center in Schenectady, NY. Marian was born in January, 1929 in Albany NY, and was the daughter of the late Robert and Willmena (Bremen) Shufelt. Marian has been a resident of Coxsackie for over 75 years. At the passing of her mother in 1936 Marian was briefly and lovingly cared for by James and RoseAnna Carroll of Coxsackie. She was raised with love by her great uncle and aunt Dr. John and Mabel (Shufelt) Loutfian, M.D. in the same house on Mansion Street that she would later raise her own family. Marian attended St. Faith’s School, a boarding school of the Episcopal Diocese in Saratoga Springs, NY, from grade school through her Sophomore year. When the rationing of gasoline during WWII made it impossible to travel between Saratoga and Coxsackie for school holidays, Marian transferred to Coxsackie High-School. Armed with an outgoing personality and sophisticated sensibility she quickly dispensed with the ‘transfer student’ stigma, graduating captain of the cheerleading squad and class May Queen. Marian graduated college with a BA in Child Psychology from New York University in Manhattan. After college she led an active social life enjoying winters with her Aunt Mabel in Cocoa Beach FL, and putting her love of children to use as a social worker and teacher at Poughkeepsie Home for Children, but it was her role as President of the Women’s Republican Club of Coxsackie that would change her life forever. Phil Marra, then President of the Men’s Republican Club, arranged a blind date with his nephew, Michael Marra of Schenectady. Despite protesting to his Uncle that he didn’t want to go on a date with any ‘darn country girl’, Marian was unlike any country girl he’d ever met and it was love at first site and forever. Marian and Michael were married at St. Mary’s Church in Coxsackie by Father Joseph Kelly in September, 1962 and had two sons Mark and David. Marian’s life was filled with love, festive gatherings with family and friends, an impeccably maintained household (and kitchen), Garden Club, summers in Cape Cod, magical Christmases, laughter, and tremendous strength, style and grace. Marian is survived by her son David Marra and his wife Chizuko of Rye NY, and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend calling hours at The W.C. Brady’s Sons, Inc. Funeral Home, 97 Mansion Street, Coxsackie, N.Y. 12051, on Thursday, January 5, 2017, from 10:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Funeral services will be held the same day at the funeral home, at 1:30 P.M. Interment will follow in the family plot of The Riverside Cemetery, Coxsackie, N.Y. Contributions in her memory may be made to The Christ Episcopal Church, 70 Mansion Street, Coxsackie, N.Y. 12051. Condolences may be made at www.wcbradyssonsinc.net.

Mrs. Marian S. Marra

January 21, 1929 - December 29, 2016