Marie L. Whalen

Visitation Visiting hours will be at the Pelham Funeral Home, 64 Lincoln Avenue, Pelham, NY on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 from 2-4 and 7-9pm.
Funeral Funeral Mass will be at St. Catharine's Church on Friday , Feb. 22, 2013 at 10am.
Interment Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY
Born March 13, 1912
Died February 18, 2013
WHALEN, MARIE L.
Marie Louise (Schappach) Whalen, age 100, passed peacefully into the arms of her Heavenly Father on February 18, 2012 at Calvary Hospital with loving family members by her side. Born to Anton and Amalie Schappach on March 13, 1912 in Mount Vernon, NY, Marie attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from A.B. Davis High School in 1929. Her early career was with the New York Telephone Company, and after marrying and raising a family she returned to the work force as an order teletypist for Bache-Prudential Stockbrokers. Prior to taking up residence four years ago at the Wartburg's Meadowview Assisted Living facility in Mount Vernon, Marie lived in Pelham, NY where she raised her family and lived for over 60 years. She was an active communicant of St. Catharine's Church in Pelham.

Whether known as Mom, Auntie, Granny or Nana Whales, Friend or Neighbor, Marie was a woman who truly loved others and in turn was deeply loved. Always known for her upbeat spirit in spite of life's challenges, Marie epitomized the "Happy Face" image so often displayed on pillows or decorations in her home, even when she consistently lost at the casinos. Known as the "Road Runner" at her assisted living facility because of her speed with a walker, Marie exhibited an energy and drive that inspired others in so many ways. She loved the outdoors, sitting out on the back porch of her home with family and friends or in the garden at Meadowview. She especially loved the beach and taking a dip at Glen Island where her grandchildren dutifully brought her right up to her last summer. She so enjoyed spending vacation time with family, and even made a third trip to Hawaii on the occasion of her 90th Birthday. Her loss is deeply felt, but the love and devotion shown to her over these last weeks by her family, especially her cherished grandchildren, are a tribute to a life well lived. Lastly, Marie was a woman of simple, but profound faith that colored each day of her life right up to the end. We are all better because of her.

Besides her parents, Marie was pre-deceased by her husband, John Thomas Whalen and a son, Terence J. Whalen, as well as by her brothers Joseph, Anton, Charles and Richard Schappach, her sisters, Louise Olry and Matilda Stumpke, and daughter-in-law Madeline Whalen. She is survived by her son John A. Whalen and his wife Stefanie of Tavernier, FL and Richard J. Whalen and his wife Barbara of Stratford, CT. In addition, she leaves behind her loving grandchildren John, Jeffrey, Marie, Dorothy and Gary, Clare, Kaitlyn Rose and Christopher, as well as her great grandchildren, Christopher and Amanda. She will also be greatly missed by her nieces and nephews, especially Anita and Nancy, Robert, Richard and Donald.

Calling hours are on Thursday, Feb. 21 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM and 7:00PM to 9:00PM at the Pelham Funeral Home, located at 64 Lincoln Ave., Pelham, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Catharine's Church, 25 Second Ave., Pelham, NY at 10:00AM on Friday, Feb. 22 followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY. (Contributions may be made to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Ossining, NY 10562).