MARION SCHUELER WERNER

MIDDLEBURY — Marion Schueler Werner passed away peacefully on Aug. 8, 2024, at the age of 97.

Born on Oct. 8, 1926, in Rochester, N.Y., Marion was the daughter of Eugene and Marguerite (Miller) Schueler. She graduated from Our Lady of Mercy High School and then attended St. Joseph’s College in Emmitsburg, Md. She loved her years at St. Joe’s, creating long-term friendships, studying biology and chemistry, playing on the college’s basketball team and serving as student body president. In the decades since she graduated in 1948, she made regular trips to campus for reunions, most recently for her 70th. She met her husband, Fred, on a blind date and they were married in 1951. Their family of five children was started the following year and life never slowed down after that. In 1971 she and Fred moved their family from Rochester to Middlebury, Vt., where they comfortably settled and made many friends.

Marion enjoyed a variety of careers over her lifetime. During the summers in between college semesters, she supported World War II efforts by working as a “Rosie the Riveter”, soldering control box components for B-29s and vividly recalled the day the war ended. Later, she worked in the University of Rochester’s cancer research department as chief medical technician to one of the research doctors. Her next career — mother to five children — included volunteer work with Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts, religious education, hosting an international exchange student, the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and Porter Hospital (RSVP). She also was generous in supporting her many friends.

She and Fred tried a short stint with retail before she worked as a religious education coordinator for St. Mary’s Parish and in the banking field. Marion was a passionate supporter of Project Independence (Elderly Services). She believed in their mission and enjoyed Project so much that, after years on their staff, she retired and then served there as a volunteer. Over the past couple of years she returned to Project as a participant and considered their staff as another family. Also tucked into her busy life were pleasures such as travel, reading, gardening and college basketball, and she passed many evenings watching the Boston Red Sox.

Marion is survived by her daughters, Joan (Ray) of Indiana and Meg (Peter) of New Hampshire; her sons, David (Cheryl) of Middlebury, Jim (Betsy) of Wyoming and Peter (Karleen) of Brandon; 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Fred, of 38 years, her two sisters and her brother.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary’s Church, Middlebury.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marion’s memory to Elderly Services, P.O. Box 581, Middlebury, VT 05753 or to St. Mary’s Parish, 326 College Street, Middlebury, VT 05753.◊