Brunswick – Marion Elizabeth Hancock, 88, of Cumberland Center, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick with her family by her side. She was born on June 20, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY and was the daughter of Edwin John and Elsie Margaret (Olsen) Nelson.
Marion grew up in West Englewood, NJ and graduated from Teaneck High School in 1939 where she enjoyed and excelled in all academics, athletics and music. She could run like the wind and played field hockey, baseball and tennis and downhill skied on skis handmade by her brother. She loved all kinds of music and her favorite piece to play on the piano was “Angel’s Prayer.” Her yearbook stated that “she was always willing to help” which held true throughout her lifetime.
She met her husband, Jim, while working in the accounting department at Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River, NY and soon after they married on January 2, 1953. They moved with her mom to New City, NY (Rockland County) where she lovingly raised their three children Kathy, Jimmy and Carol.
It was a three generation household. Marion’s beloved father died when she was 23 years old, so she and her mom always lived together until Elsie’s passing in 1990. They were an unstoppable homemaking team and always enjoyed each other’s company. Marion was also very close to her brother, Edwin, and we will always have treasured memories of our weekly Saturday get-togethers, holiday celebrations and Cape Cod vacations with his family. She was very proud of her Norwegian and Swedish heritage which was reflected in her attention to detail while creating a cozy home with a cup of coffee and a piece of Norwegian apple cake always available.
She was a great mom. An after school snack was always ready for us and she was always there to hear about our explorations in the woods or our adventures on our bikes. She taught us to be kind to animals including any frogs, turtles or bugs that came home with us. We are thankful for her compassion, her great sense of humor and for sharing her deep appreciation of nature with us.
In 1992, Jim and Marion moved to Cumberland Center to be near their summer home on Bustins Island and their daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Dave. There was a special place in her heart for Dave and she was always grateful for his care and kindness. During the summer, Jim and Marion enjoyed their daily walks around Bustins, always stopping along the way to notice a flower, watch a gull’s flight or to chat with other islanders .They loved going to Two Lights for a lobster roll followed by sitting on a bench overlooking the ocean. They did everything together and took good care of each other for 57 years.
Marion was a wonderful grandma to Carol’s two sons, Michael and Chris, who will always remember her feisty spirit and her genuine interest in their lives. We will all miss her caring ways and her sparkly blue eyes.
Marion was predeceased by her brother, Edwin J. Nelson II in 2008. She is survived by her loving husband, Jim Hancock of Cumberland Center; her daughter, Kathy and her husband Dave Stager of North Yarmouth; her son, Jim and his wife Tori Hancock of Petaluma, CA; her daughter, Carol DeNino and two grandsons, Michael and Christopher DeNino, all of Gaithersburg, MD; her sister-in-law, Audrey Nelson and nieces and nephews of Pearl River, NY.
A memorial service and burial will take place in the spring in New Jersey.
Condolences can be sent to Jamie Hancock at 8 Maple St., Cumberland Center, ME 04021.
(copied from an e-mail by Diane Jellis)
