Marjorie Maxine Burnham Margosian Obituary (1931 - 2023)

Marjorie Maxine Burnham Margosian passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 23, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Marjorie was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on March 13, 1931, the daughter of Pliny L. (Emma) Burnham and Mabel Morgan (Claud) Eldridge. On February 14, 1956, she married Harry J. Margosian and together, they raised seven beautiful children. Mom attended Erie's Public Schools: McKinley Elementary, Wilson Middle School, and Academy High School. While attending 7th grade at Wilson Middle School, her music teacher asked her and eight other students to listen to bars of music and identify the pitch. Four of those students, including mom, were chosen to learn the cello and that instrument would become her lifelong joy. Later in life, she switched to the violin, practicing and playing for family and friends. But she always loved the sound of the cello. She later donated four violins to Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School's music program and often donated school supplies to students. While attending Academy, mom played in the orchestra and also on the girls' basketball team. The influence of music in mom's and her siblings' lives came directly from their parents. Grandpa Burnham played the saxophone and Grandma Mabel played and taught the piano. Our family spent many hours at holidays and get-togethers singing around the piano at home, grandma's, and Aunt Helen's houses to "Amazing Grace," "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue (Has Anybody Seen My Girl)," as well as many other songs. Mom taught her sons, Tim and Dan, to play the piano and her great grandson, Alex, is now learning, as well. While growing up, 1920s - 1970s music was part of the fabric of our lives. It was common for our family of nine to watch musicals (and movies) together on Sundays and most of us knew the dialogue and songs from Camelot, The Sound of Music, and The Music Man. Together, we watched The Wonderful World of Disney movies on Sunday night. When her youngest child, Susan, turned nine, mom went to work at the former, Loblaws Grocery store. She worked at the Perry Plaza, Powell Avenue (currently Harley-Davidson), and the former Harborcreek Mall locations. For 15 years, she was a meat-wrapper and attributed her good health--into her 90s--to the physical job she held. After mom retired, she decided to go to her State Representative, Linda Bebko Jones' office to discuss a concerning matter. Before she knew it, she was working for the state representative. Mom went on to be a strong voice, always advocating for those less fortunate. After leaving employment with Jones, she volunteered as a driver for the American Red Cross. In her "actual" retirement years, mom enjoyed learning to paint with acrylics, completing numerous paintings. She also continued her lifelong enjoyment of reading. She was a voracious reader and a lifelong learner. Mom was always ready to discuss any topic from nature, gardening, science, and the universe to politics and religion. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend and we are all going to miss her. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 26 years, Harry J. Margosian, who passed away on December 3, 1981. She was also preceded in death by her much-loved sisters, Ruth Pierce, Helen Bailey, and Betty Havlik; and her dear brother, Robert "Bobby" Burnham. She is survived by her beloved sister, Marian Weber; her loving children, Tim Margosian, Dan (Robin) Margosian, Gary (Terri) Margosian, Terrie Ann (Mark) Kilbert, Chuck (Marsha) Margosian, Mary Margosian, and Susan Margosian Lee (Pat Brooks). She is further survived by her beautiful grandchildren, Matt, Jessica, Doug, David, Christopher, Kimberly, Jennifer, Cindy, Kevin, and Katie. Mom also leaves behind 13 great-grandchildren, Matthew, Bailey, Alex, Easton, Sawyer, Genevieve, Grace, Christian, Greyson, Landen, Aubree, Dylan, and Derek. She is also survived by dear family friend, Kathy Kubasik Margosian. The Margosian family would like to thank the caring staff at UPMC Home Healthcare and Family Hospice, especially Denny, Kristine, and Danielle. We would also like to thank her longtime community of friends at Eastlake Woods in Harborcreek for their friendship to mom for the last 17 years. She had a beautiful apartment on the 3rd floor overlooking Lake Erie and she enjoyed every minute of watching nature through her windows. Friends may call at the Dusckas Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Rd., on Wednesday from 2 to 6 pm and are invited to attend a Funeral Service there on Thursday at 10 am. Burial will immediately follow at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery. CLICK HERE TO PRINT THIS PAGE SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA OR EMAIL