Marion N. Elden

Marion N. Elden, 79, of Orlando, Florida, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, December 7, 2015 at her residence. She was born on August 29, 1936 to Joseph and Nettie (Rufolo) Civette in Newark, NJ. Marion is survived by her loving husband, Raymond Elden; four daughters: Donna Fontaine and her husband Jim of Miamisburg, OH, Lisa A. Bucher and husband Paul of Orlando, FL, Michele Mahoney and husband Mark of Poughkeepsie, NY, and Suzanne Gualtieri and her husband Joe of East Douglas, MA; niece, Dina Teixeira and husband Tony of Randolph, NJ; 29 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild. After raising her family, Marion earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Instruction and Curriculum and taught graphics in Massachusetts for 20 years, where she was voted “teacher of the year.” She retired to Florida, but Marion was far from retired. Lively, caring, looking to have fun and make friends, Marion founded the Fabulous Fifties Plus Organization. She was their president and beloved leader for 17 years! Organizing and attending their FABulous events was her passion. Furthering her passion as a writer, Marion was a contributing editor for Life at Hunter’s Creek, as well as a published author. She worked as a substitute teacher and was greatly loved by all of her students. In addition, Marion kept busy proctoring at the Convention Center, where she was a supervisor, and working at the election polls, since she was passionate about politics. Marion and her loving husband Ray loved travelling around the world. They caravanned out west to Yellowstone, cruised to Hawaii, Alaska, Italy, Greece, the Panama Canal, the Baltic, and Australia. They spent Christmas eve at the pyramids and on the Nile, and New Year’s docked off the Copacabana beach watching fireworks! Marion took her mother to Italy, and her children and grandchildren on a Disney Cruise. No matter where she traveled, for Marion there was no place like being “home” with her family. She attended every birth, christening, communion, was a confirmation sponsor 11 times, celebrated graduations, and even officiated at her granddaughter’s wedding. The highlight of her year was spending several weeks each summer at the Jersey Shore with family. 31 members of her family came to Florida to spend this last Thanksgiving with her. Marion was such a special person to everyone she met. She filled our lives with joy and now we are lost and brokenhearted without her. As Marion said in her last article, “It’s hard to understand why people are taken from us, but we find comfort in knowing they were a special part of our lives. When God calls our loved ones home, he leaves a gift of memories in exchange...memories are the legacy of love.” The family will receive friends on Friday, December 11th from 12 noon - 1 pm at Corpus Christi Catholic Church with the Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 1 pm. Arrangements under the care of Osceola Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 1717 Old Boggy Creek Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744 (407) 847-2494 Online condolences can be given at www.osceolamemgds.com. A Funeral Mass will be held on January 2, 2016 in New Jersey for friends and family who live out of state. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cornerstone Hospice or Peace United methodist Church of Hunter’s Creek.

Marion N. Elden

August 29, 1936 - December 7, 2015