Marge B.     Engelberger

Devoted To Family And Community

Marge B. Engelberger, 86, beloved wife of Joseph F. Engelberger of Newtown, died August 11, after a lengthy illness.

Mrs Engelberger was born in Stratford on April 27, 1921, a daughter of Rose and Steve Thomas. She graduated from Stratford High School, where her classmates unanimously voted her “Most Popular.”

She was a stellar athlete and played on her high school softball team. A highpoint of her early years was to become the State of Connecticut’s first female lifeguard, and she always wondered whatever became of that beach ball she saved.

During the Depression, Mrs Engelberger worked as a stenographer during the day and as a hostess at her mother’s restaurant at night. While employed at Manning, Maxwell and Moore, she met her future husband, Joe, who was a junior engineer at the time, and who took an immediate fancy to her. They dated for a couple of years before eloping to Elkton, Md., in 1954. Her wedding ring cost $20, and the witnesses Marge and Joe pulled off the street each got $5. The minister was the most expensive, at $35.

More than any of her varied community activities, including being a Girl Scout leader, a Sunday Bible school teacher, a member of the Newtown Garden Club, and a committee member on numerous Danbury Hospital fundraising events, she was a loving and caring wife and mother, and nothing gave her more pleasure than taking care of her husband and her two children. She was a terrific cook, kept a picture-perfect household, was an avid reader, and created beautiful crafts and intricate handiwork. Her family was always proud to point out that she had hand-hooked every single rug in the entire house.

Mrs Engelberger was a wonderful hostess as well, and whether the party was at home or onboard the Rights of Man, they were always a huge hit and are fondly remembered by many. What other woman would remove all the furniture from her house, cover all the floors with a thick layer of sawdust, and then tell her guests to feel free to scatter their peanut shells wherever they wanted, while they enjoyed and danced to a hot, live Dixieland band?

Mrs Engelberger is survived her husband; her son, Jeff Engelberger; her daughter, Gay Engelberger; her son-in-law, Kevin McNally; her grandson, Ian Engelberger; and her very best friend, Ginny Lathrop; as well as a loving extended family, including numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Stephen Thomas; and her sister, Edith Calhoun.

Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours.

Contributions in honor of her memory may be made to Danbury Hospital Development Fund c/o Danbury Hospital, 24 Hospital Avenue, Danbury CT 06810.

Arrangements are in care of Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown.

The Newtown Bee        August 17, 2007