Marie H. Dulaney, age 85, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Marie was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and lived a good part of her youth with her Slovakian grandparents in Filbert, Pennsylvania. She also became fluent in Slovak. At one time, her mother (Sophia) put her in an orphanage because she did not have the wherewithal to support her. Once her mother was able to find work, she took her out of the orphanage and they moved to Niles, Ohio, where she finished grade school and graduated from Niles McKinley High School. In the years prior to graduation, she helped her mother take care of her younger siblings (Richard, Joyce, Lydia, and John). She even made some of their clothes and became a good seamstress, which allowed her to make a couple of quilts later in life.
During her high school years, she became acquainted with Dean Dulaney, a student who was one year ahead of her. She casually dated Dean’s best friend while Dean dated her best friend. When Dean went off to college at Ohio University in 1956, Marie’s mother convinced her that she should be dating Dean. From then on, Marie would write to Dean at least every other day, and sometimes more. Because of his studies, Dean found it hard to respond in a timely manner, but thoroughly enjoyed getting the letters. Marie was an excellent writer; every letter was interesting and not repetitive. She saved every letter and wrapped them with a rubber band.
Marie married Dean in 1959 and they remained lovers for 65 years. They bought a home in Warren, Ohio, and started a family with two boys (David and Mark). Marie was so proud of the boys and loved dressing them in church clothes.
Dean started working at the Warren Telephone Co. in 1961 and in 1969, transferred to the United Telephone Co. in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Marie kept busy raising the boys and taking care of the household chores. In 1975, they bought four greenhouses on State Route 308 in Gambier, Ohio, and the boys became part of the operation. Marie knew she would have to keep good records for the business, so she taught herself DOS, Excel and Word Perfect on the computer and became an excellent organizer. Marie operated all the greenhouses for 17 years and during that time converted the double garage into a flower shop called “Blossom Tyme.” She employed several part-time people and two full-time people (Sue and Maxine). Marie was creative and excelled with structure and color schemes for her arrangements. After a few years, she attended Hickson’s famous School of Floral Design near Cleveland, Ohio. The flower shop was a big hit with Kenyon College, and Marie created all the arrangements for the president’s wife (Sheila Jordon). During that time, Marie used our home to start a bed and breakfast. It was well received by the Kenyon alumni and others.
Three years after buying the greenhouses, the blizzard of 1978 in Ohio, also known as the Storm of the Century, killed 51 people and caused at least $100 million in damage. Thankfully, none of the greenhouses were damaged and no plants were lost.
After 17 years, Marie retired and had many adventures over the next few decades. She and Dean moved to Apple Valley for a couple of years and finally ended up on Beech Street in Mount Vernon for 30-plus years. Marie was blessed with a grandson (Curtis) and a granddaughter (Sonya), Mark married (Faith) and Marie was instantly blessed with more granddaughters (Reagahn and Reese), their mother (Helena) and father (Travis). She and Dean purchased a retirement home in Arizona where they lived five months each year, taking short trips nearly every day. They also took two cruises to the Caribbean and enjoyed every minute. Marie joined the Red Hat Society and found a good friend (Toni). Toni’s husband (Roy) was an engineer and loved woodworking and easily became good friends with Dean who also was an engineer and loved woodworking. Then they met (Walt and Pat) and became good friends, having many things in common through our work experience. These friendships have lasted 24 years and all six of us go out to dinner at a different restaurant every Wednesday. Unfortunately, we lost Walt, but Pat’s good friend (Dee) has joined the group.
Now Marie’s journey on earth is over, but her footprints of kindness and love, as well as joy and faith in the Lord will last forever. Heaven is her new home, where joys never cease with JESUS.
We are to give thanks in all things, and we do that in memory of Marie:
Church/Trinity Pastor Ted Kiger, Pastor Roger Tickle, singer, Donna Simmerman, caterer, Lannings. Everyone is welcome for dinner following the service.
A funeral service will be held for Marie on Saturday, July 6, 2024 beginning at 12 p.m. at the Trinity Assembly of God, 1051 Beech Street, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050, where friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of service. The family will observe a private graveside service in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions in Marie’s name may be made to Gentiva Hospice.
To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home of Mount Vernon is honored to serve the family of Marie H. Dulaney.
