Marjorie M. Jarrett

Marjorie M. Jarrett “Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.” -Alexander Pope Marge Jarrett. Mother. Sister. Grandmother. Great- Grandmother. Loving daughter. Loyal friend. Favorite teacher . Respected colleague, coworker, and mentor. Marge was beautiful, intelligent, fun-loving, witty, and charming and was a woman of integrity, strength, and conviction. She loved going to the theater & museums, listening to music, planting flowers, learning new words, working crossword puzzles, and playing golf and bridge. She devoured books, reading long into the night, and she was an accomplished knitter making gorgeous sweaters for family members and friends. She traveled the world with people she loved and lived a life filled with laughter and love, good food and friends, treasured family and devoted pets, and a deep faith in her Creator God. Born May 6, 1928 in Crafton, PA (a suburb of Pittsburgh), she as the daughter of Frank DeFord and Mary Elizabeth McElhaney Moser. She grew up walking to school, the bakery, the library, church, and everywhere else she and her friends, her sisters, Claire & Marilyn, and her best friend/cousin, Chris, wanted to go. They walked up and down so many hills in their small town they called themselves the Crafton Climbing Cows. Coming from a highly educated family in which intelligent conversation, thoughtful observation, informed opinion, and passionate delight in words and books were prized, Marge’s intellectual and educational goals were naturally quite high. She graduated with a BA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1950 and worked for Dravo Corp. before moving to Johnstown, PA where she taught high school English. Upon moving to Lancaster, PA in “the year the Pirates won the pennant” (this was the only way she ever referred to 1960), Marge taught several different classes and directed the school play for several years at Pequea Valley High School where she was much respected and loved. After a hiatus from teaching, Marge resumed her career in 1970 at Manheim

Township High School where, with much skill and pride, she taught typing, shorthand, and other business classes. She loved the fact that when students left her class at the end of the year, they took with them a skill they could use for the rest of their lives. She became the Business department Chair and served many years with distinction. For twenty years Marge was the faculty advisor to the student run newspaper, the Hi-Lite. It was in this capacity that she began many of the treasured friendships with students that she enjoyed for the rest of her life. While teaching full-time and raising her five children as a single mom, she received a Masters in Education degree from Temple University. Impressive. After retiring from teaching, Marge ramped up to a full-time position as bookstore manager at the Strasburg Rail Road Gift Shop where she had been working on a part-time basis while teaching. She loved books and trains and got a big kick out of the Rail Road. All told, Marge worked at the Rail Road for nineteen years. Marge also volunteered at First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, her home church for over 50 years. She acted as church librarian, Bible teacher, and receptionist, and she was a member of a pastor search committee and of Presbyterian Women, chairing several committees over the years. She loved her church – especially the music from wonderful choirs & a magnificent organ – the louder and more triumphant the better! The job Marge held the longest? Mom. And a wonderful mother she was to her surviving children: Beth, married to David Patterson & living in Lancaster, Susan, married to Linn Moedinger & living in Lancaster, Lyn, married to Chris Hofer & living in Carlisle, PA, David, married to Anne & living in Virginia Beach, VA, and Jonathan, married to Jan & living in Charlotte, NC. She eventually got used to the idea of being a grandmother and took great delight and pride in the accomplishments of her grandchildren: Beth’s sons, Andrew (& Jen) Patterson of Bethesda, MD, soon to be living in State College, PA, Nathan Patterson of Lancaster; Susan’s children, Marilyn Moedinger of Boston, MA, Ben (& Diana) Moedinger of Lancaster; Lyn’s children, Steven (& Heather) Cantalupi of Winston-Salem, NC, Brian Cantalupi of Clark’s Summit, PA, Susan Cantalupi of

Carlisle, PA; David’s children, Becky (& Andrew) Rose, Katie Jarrett, and Kim Jarrett, all of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Drew and Molly Jarrett of Virginia Beach, VA; and Jonathan’s children, Natalie and Ben Jarrett of Charlotte, NC. Marge was also great-grandmother to Aiden (Becky’s son), Avery & Charlotte (Steven’s daughters), and Anna (Andrew’s daughter). Marge passed away in peace on Sunday, October 3, 2010 after a lengthy battle with several debilitating medical conditions. She leaves behind many who grieve the loss of her vibrant, colorful personality, not the least among these being her dearest friends, Jim Sclichter and Sylvia twater.

Marge Jarrett, a force to be reckoned with, was deeply loved and leaves a hole in the hearts of the many people who respected and admired her. A Memorial Service celebrating the life and resurrection of Marjorie Jarrett will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 140 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA. Visit with the family from 2:30-3:00 p.m. and again after the service from 4-4:30 p.m. Flowers may be sent to the church for the service, but in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to First Presbyterian Church Sacred Spaces Restoration Fund. Arrangements by the Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home.