Marion Mueller Gaenzle passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at her home in Great Barrington, surrounded by her devoted children and her loyal caregiver, Sandra.
Marion is survived by her sister Eleanor Smith of Troy, N.Y.; her brother Peter Mueller (Mary Girzone) of Albany, N.Y.; her son Rick (Maura) Gaenzle of Richmond, Va.; her daughter Jennifer (Colin) Smith of Sheffield; and five granddaughters, Margaret Gaenzle, Caroline Gaenzle, Isabelle Gaenzle, Norah Smith, and Lena Smith.
Marion was born on August 25, 1934, in Albany, N.Y., but spent her formative years in Heringsdorf, Germany. Significantly, she lived there during the World War II, and the challenges and impacts of those years stayed with her throughout her lifetime. Marion returned to Albany in October 1949 to live with her cousins until the rest of her family could emigrate back to the United States one year later.
Marion was forever grateful for the opportunities afforded to her, including her first job as a TWA flight attendant, her years in the principal’s office of Boyce Middle School in Upper St. Clair, Penn., and her final position as a bilingual administrative assistant and German language translator for the Bayer Corporation in Pittsburgh, Penn.
Marion was known to be a skilled seamstress and an incredible cook and baker. She enjoyed growing fresh produce in her garden and eagerly anticipated being out in nature wherever her adventurous spirit led. After her retirement in 2005, she relocated from Pittsburgh to Great Barrington and took up bird watching, spending hours with her guidebook identifying a variety of North American birds. Marion was active in the community and her church; she enjoyed involvement in various Berkshire County choir programs, attending and volunteering at classical music performances at Tanglewood, and visiting local historic gardens.
Marion’s lifelong love of travel and adventure took her all over the world. She was especially proud of her membership in TWA’s alumni network, The Clipped Wings. Marion loved the German seaside town of Heringsdorf, where she made many happy memories with extended family, some of whom still reside there. She was able to visit Germany often and traveled there with her older granddaughters and children.
Most of all though, Marion was devoted to her family and close friends. She will be remembered as a kind, generous, and loving parent, grandmother, sister, and friend with a smile for all and a great sense of humor.
A celebration of Marion’s life will be held on Saturday, December 21, at 11:30 a.m., at Christ Trinity Church on Main Street in Sheffield. Condolences may be made through the website of Birches-Roy Funeral Home.
