Marianne Stern
Marianne Jane Boswell Stern departed for Heaven on Saturday, July 13, 2024. We know she was welcomed by those closest to her heart who predeceased her.
Born August 16, 1929, the daughter of Dorothy Lennon Boswell and Harry Boswell, she grew up with her brothers, Donald, James, and David, as well as grandparents, and many treasured cousins, aunts, and uncles in West Haven, Connecticut.
A 1947 graduate of West Haven High School, she married Donald Stern on July 16, 1947. Together, they had two dear sons, Donald and Christopher, three cherished grandsons, Timothy, David, and Andrew, and two beloved great grandsons, Noah and Ayden.
Marianne truly enjoyed children and was a foster mother of pre-adoptive babies. In 1964, she became one of the first teachers at the West Haven Green Nursery School. When the Nursery School needed a temporary playground, she opened her backyard to accommodate the swings and outdoor activities as well as the children.
A devout, life-long, active member of the Congregational Church on the Green in West Haven, she served as the Church Secretary for several years. In 1972, she became one of the first three female deacons ordained by the Church. As a committed volunteer, she spent 45 years supporting SERRV through a shop at the Congregational Church, 18 years as the dessert server at Alex’s Kitchen at the Congregational Church, and many years baking bread from scratch donated for church sales and fund-raising events. Her famous and delicious chocolate chip cookies and brownies were much appreciated.
Her exquisite needlework is evident in the many altar cloths and banners which adorn the Congregational Church and beautiful pieces of prayers and fun and interesting images lovingly gifted to friends and family.
An enthusiastic and gifted gardener, her efforts were enhanced by the squirrels who regularly replanted her crocus bulbs. She contributed her talents to the beautification project of the West Haven Green, literally digging in the dirt to plant flowers at the corner of Church and Savin Avenues.
A talented seamstress, she particularly enjoyed sewing wedding dresses. She sewed the wedding dress and dresses for the bridesmaids for her niece, Cathy Boswell Gillikin’s wedding..
She enjoyed travel and spent many winters in Florida as well as trips to Bermuda, Bethlehem, the British Isles, Cape Cod, Hawaii, and the mainland United States. Often, travel was to spend time with her cousin, Robert Bossler and his partner, Jim Simpson, and her brothers and their families in Arizona, California, Georgia, and Maryland.
An avid reader, she supported the West Haven Public Library through patronage and donations. An adept “puzzler” she always had a new puzzle in the works and was an expert Scrabble player, regularly besting her playmates.
Heartfelt appreciation and thanks to her wonderful friends, Pat Carleton, Kim and Pat Cartwright, Christine and Bill Lang, great-nephew, David Klotzberger, his wife, Rachael, and their daughter, Taylor. Particular gratitude to her cousin-by-marriage, Natalie Bossler, for her devotion and care.
The Home Going / Memorial service was Saturday, July 20, 2024,. followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall at The First Congregational Church of West Haven. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Congregational Church of West Haven.