Marion L. Pleva, 90, of Newark, DE, after a long, full life enriched by travel and the love of her family, died on February 20, 2013 at the home of her daughter. Born in Houlton, ME, February 27, 1922, Marion grew up in the Seven Islands region of northern Maine. During Marion’s preschool years her father worked near the “Experimental Farm” outside of Fort Kent, ME, as a bookkeeper for a logging company, and for many summers worked as a “tower” man at Depot Mountain, watching for forest fires. Marion’s mother, who was an RN taught nursing in town. When Marion told stories about her childhood, she talked about the long, lonely winters spent in the remote northern Maine woods and how the family was isolated for weeks at a time due to the deep snows. She also spoke about how much they welcomed the occasional visits by the local Micmac Indians, who came to Marion’s mother for medical help or brought supplies up to the family. Another memory she shared was how the Micmac Indians brought handmade dolls for each of the girls at Christmas. Marion and her two sisters grew up to become a force of nature collectively known as “The McGillicuddy Girls”. Three years after Marion graduated from high school, she married Joseph Pleva on May 1, 1943 in Presque Isle, ME. As a military wife she was introduced to a new life, crowded with people and full of travel. Whether living in California, Germany, Illinois, New Hampshire, Iowa, Japan, Missouri, Texas or Delaware she was always the center of each new home she created for her husband and four children. Marion volunteered at the Veterans of Foreign War Post 6483, serving as Post President in the 1980s, and was a Life Member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Her recipe for cabbage rolls printed in a Shaw AFB Wifes Club cookbook, supported her steadfast championing of the superiority of barley over rice. Marion was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel G. and Ester Louise Ouellette McGillicuddy; her sisters, Frances Lockhart and Patricia Runneals; her husband, Joseph Pleva; and her sons, Michael J. and Stephen J. Pleva. She is survived by her daughters Danna Louise Buck [SC] and Patricia Ann Pleva [DE], daughter-in-law Judith Pleva [AL], brother-in-law Charles Lockhart [OR], grandchildren Melissa Rabon (Craig), Richard Jones (Stacie), and Joseph Pleva (Laura); nine great grandchildren, a great great grand child due in July; her cat Snickers, and by a dear friend Betty Tack of Dover. The family wishes to express gratitude for the compassionate and tender care provided by the caregivers from VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®. A gathering of friends and family celebrating Marion’s life is being planned for 12 Noon on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at the Funeral Home of Michael J. Ambruso, 1175 S. State St. Dover, DE. In lieu of flowers donations in Marion’s memory may be made to VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®, 100 Commerce Dr, Christiana Corp Ctr #302, Newark, DE 19713; Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, c/o Development: For Garden, 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE 19735; Forgotten Cats, Inc., Suite 422, 4023 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE 19807. Condolences may be made via www.ambruso.com
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