Marlene Stenger

Marlene Maria Stenger, 66, of Petersburg peacefully went to be with the Lord while at home surrounded by her loving family on August 13, 2004. The daughter of Cecil and the late Emile Pellerin, Marlene was born in Fairfield, Maine on April 15, 1938. After receiving her degree form Emmanuel College in 1959, Marlene taught elementary students in a mission school in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was here that she began a lifelong loving relationship with her husband Joseph G. Stenger whom she married in 1960. As a resident of Petersburg since 1968, Marlene’s loving nature, leadership abilities, and her devotion to God and the teaching of Christ touched many lives. She was an active member of their parish the Church of the Sacred Heart where she served in a variety of leadership roles. She was a director on the Gibbons High School Board for many years. In 1980, she served as board president, becoming the first women to chair a Catholic high school board in the Diocese of Richmond. In addition, from 1977 to 1990, Marlene worked as bookkeeper and receptionist at the law firm of Morton B. Spero. Marlene, who saw Christ in everyone, established many deep friendships in the community that sustained her, especially in recent years with her failing health. Surviving are her husband Joseph, daughter Theresa Stenger of Richmond, VA and Maria Holland and her husband, Langley of Virginia Beach, VA; son Aloysius Stenger and his wife Krista of Richmond, VA; grandchildren Nicholas, Abigail and Jonathan Stenger; her mother, her sister Jeanne Bolduc and her husband Gerard of Fairfield, ME; several aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the Church of the Sacred Heart in New Bohemia. Internment will follow at the church cemetery. Her family will receive friends 7-8:30, Monday evening at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son. Condolences can be registered at www.jtmorriss.com