Marlene D. (Gatto) Spence

Marlene D. Spence

1945 - 2023

Marlene D. Spence (nee Gatto), age 78, of Springfield, PA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.  She was predeceased by her husband, Donald, and her parents, Leon and Theresa (nee Travia) Gatto. 

Marlene was born in Philadelphia, PA on February 24, 1945.  Her family moved to Springfield, Delaware County in 1955 where Marlene remained; she married and raised her own family around the corner from her family home.

Marlene’s greatest joy was being a wife and mother to her three children.  She was the mom who always volunteered at school.  She was a fixture at St. Kevin’s where she organized the classroom holiday parties and helped to make the assorted goodies and crafts that went along with the holiday, she implemented special lunches for the entire school like hotdog day, hoagie day and McDonald’s as an occasional treat at a time when brown bagged lunches were the only option, and she often chaperoned the class field trips.  Marlene was also known as the Crossing Guard at St. Kevin’s, a job she loved!  Although she eventually changed locations; she continued as a Crossing Guard until her retirement.

Anyone who knew Marlene, knows how much she enjoyed cooking and baking.  She generously shared the fruits of her labor with family and friends; no one went home hungry or without leftovers.  She insisted on following traditions for the holidays, especially for Christmas and Easter, and there was never a shortage of Christmas cookies or Easter bread!  Whether making food for a crowd, baking and decorating cakes for a special occasion, or hosting a family dinner, Marlene truly was happiest in the kitchen.     

Marlene was devoted to her family and was thrilled to be a grandmother.  She was the glue of the Spence Family and will forever be missed.  She is survived by her brother, Philip, her children, Anita (John) Green, Donald Spence, Jr. and his partner, Brenda, Brian (Christy) Spence, her grandchildren, Christopher, Charlie, Molly, Scott, Nicole and Christy, her great grandson, Christopher John, several nieces and nephews, her dog, Jodie, and many friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Saturday, September 23, 2023, 9:30 to 10:45 am at St. Kevin Church, 200 West Sproul Road, Springfield, PA 19064 where her Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 am.  Interment will take place at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Feeding America/Philabundance (https://www.philabundance.org/).

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