Marjorie Eileen Branco (Gilbert) died on Monday, December 21, 2020 at the age
of 86. She was diagnosed with cancer about 3 weeks prior, spending her last
weeks peacefully at home with family. Marjorie was known for a quick, biting wit
both appreciating a laugh and even getting a laugh in her last days.
Marjorie’s first new car was a green Studabaker Hawk which she reluctantly
traded in for a family car shortly after marrying Joseph C Branco in 1956.
Suffering one early miscarriage, Marjorie gave birth to three boys, Don, Sam
and Scott from 1958 to 1962.
A short year in Ohio preceded stops in Oklahoma and Colorado where Joe
completed active military service as a U. S. Army Captain. To advance a career
in Soil Conservation, Joseph and Marjorie moved every 3 years or so, first,
around Indiana and then later to Louisiana, New Jersey and finally back to their
home state of Ohio.
Marjorie loved taking their 3 boys camping and fishing on weekends to various
Indiana state parks. They also frequently visited family in Fremont and Bellevue
OH where she made sure they learned to fish for perch in Lake Erie just like she
had.
Marjorie held various jobs over the years including bank teller, swimming
instructor, book keeper, receptionist and malt bar cashier. She was also a
lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Her oldest son Donald married Annette and has a daughter Lydia. Her second
oldest, Sam married Beth having daughters Mackenzie and Hallie. Finally, her
youngest son, Scott wed Mary producing sons Trevor and Kevin and daughter
Holly. Marjorie loved visiting her grandchildren and teaching them to play games
like dominoes and euchre.
Marjorie and Joe divided their retired years spending winters in Alexandria, LA
and summers on the Portage River in Port Clinton, OH. They brought the 3 boys
and their children fishing and boating on Lake Erie whenever they could visit.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Glendon and Pearl Gilbert. as well as
her older sister, Evaden, and husband James Mason. She is survived by her
husband Joseph (also 86) and all of her children and grandchildren.
Marjorie converted to the Catholic faith upon marriage. She was a faithful and
active member of St Rita Catholic Church in Alexandria, LA and Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church in Port Clinton, OH where she volunteered as a
Eucharistic minister and in other important capacities.
The family requests that memorials are sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place,
Memphis, TN 38105 or to St. Mary's Residential Training School, 6715 LA-1, Boyce, LA 71409
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