Marlene Marie Macke
January 10, 2021
Marlene Marie Macke passed away on 10th day of January, 2021. Predeceased by her parents, Orville and Eva Macke. A member of the Bahá’í Faith for over 50 years, Marlene believed in the inevitability of world peace through the unity of all peoples. “Thy Will be done, Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.”
After leaving a career in market development in the federal tourism agency that included postings in Sydney, Australia and St. John’s, Newfoundland, Marlene served in the community development department of the Bahá’í National Centre in Thornhill, Ontario. Back in St. Marys, she devoted her life to working at the Stratford Festival, travelling and writing. She loved working as a Festival usher and, more recently, as a volunteer tour guide. Many of her trips involved Bahá’í service projects in destinations such as Cyprus, Ireland and Western Samoa. Marlene authored two biographies, Take My Love to the Friends, the Story of Laura R. Davis and Faithful Friends, Founding the Toronto Bahá’í Community 1919-1938, one play named Tabreez, several dramatic readings and essays and a dozen essays on Shakespeare plays. Joining a group of writers at the Desert Rose Bahá’í Institute in Arizona for annual gatherings, she co-founded the first of a series of Writers Retreats. Marlene was named the first Writer in Residence at Desert Rose.
A private service will be held with interment in the St. Marys Cemetery. A Bahá’í funeral service will celebrate her life next summer.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Marys Museum, St. Marys Public Library Trust or the Feline Friends Network.
How memorial donations are handled at the Hodges Funeral Home
Memorial donation by cheque
St. Marys Museum
P.O. Box 998, St. Marys, ON N4X 1B6
St. Marys Public Library Trust
P.O. Box 700, St. Marys, ON, N4X 1B4
Feline Friends Network
134 Brunswick Street, Stratford, ON, N5A 3M1
Link to their website for donations:
E-Transfers can be sent to: info@felinefriends.ca
Memorial donation by credit card
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Andrew Hodges/
8 Condolences
2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Marlene Marie Macke 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:St.-Marys, Province: Ontario