Margaret "Marney" Mackay Nunemacher, age 85, passed away on Fri, Apr. 8 at the Motif memory care facility in Southbury, CT, after a long struggle with dementia. She was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Lee A. Nunemacher, in 2016, but she kept on whistling right to the end.
Marney was born on June 5, 1936 in New York City "under the Brooklyn Bridge", then spent her early childhood in Baltimore, MD, before escaping the U-Boats in the Chesapeake and moving to her grandmother's farm in Woodbury, CT in 1945, where she spent the next 70 years. During high school, she played basketball and ran a small summer day camp for the neighborhood kids. She returned to Baltimore for a degree at Goucher College, which she put to use as a schoolteacher in Woodbury and Bethlehem.
Marney was involved in many facets of life in Woodbury. She was a longtime member of the North Congregational Church, which she joined because she "liked the music", and where she was active as a deacon, a member of the choir and a handbell player. She was an avid gardener and was active in local garden clubs. She even took a turn as a town selectman.
Though she always thought she ought to have been a farmer's wife (and was for a time), she was also well-traveled, having circled the globe in a tramp steamer in her younger days, and apparently she even made it to Woodstock. She would like to be remembered as a person of strong conviction, but also a free spirit, a teacher who made a positive impact on so many, and a wonderful Mom.
Marney is survived by her two step-sons, Tyson (Jennifer) of Nederland, CO and Kirk (Nanette) of Bridgeport; her nephews Tom and Dan, and niece Pam; and grandchildren Matthew, Joshua, Liesl and Oskar.
Marney's family would like to thank the entire staff at Motif (formerly the Hearth) in Southbury for their loving and compassionate care.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 10:30 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10:00 a.m., at North Congregational Church, 11 Main St. North, Woodbury, CT. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Munson Lovetere Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements. To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com
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