Marianna I. Berry

Marianna I. (Trowbridge) Berry, 82, of 131 West Rd., Petersham, died peacefully Thursday in Athol Memorial Hospital in Athol after an illness. She was born in New York City on July 6, 1921 daughter of the late Miles C. and Irene (Underwood) Trowbridge. She married her beloved husband of sixty-two years, William L. Berry on June 21, 1941. They lived in New York a short time and moved to Chevy Chase, Maryland where they remained until moving to Petersham in 1960. Mrs. Berry was an honor graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda Maryland, class of 1938. She was awarded a full four year scholarship to George Washington University and a half scholarship to Swarthmore College and was a member of the National Honor Society. She attended Mt. Pleasant Secretarial School in Washington, DC and spent most of her working years in various secretarial capacities. She retired from Engel Plumbing in Athol after fifteen years of service to the company. She was a longtime active communicant of St. Peter's Church in Petersham and at one time served as treasurer for the parish. Mrs. Berry has always been active in civic, social and church organizations. She was chairman of the recommendations committee in Washington, DC, and a member of the Suburban Maryland Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club for three years. She was a long time Girl Scout Leader and Troop Committee Chairman. She was Town Coordinator for the Town of Petersham, former Chairman of the Petersham Board of Health and was a founding member of the Petersham Ecumenical Committee. She was a member of the Elizabeth Carpenter Concert Committee, the Petersham Branch Alliance, the Petersham Country Club, and was a very active member of the Petersham Craft Center. She and her husband volunteered their time at the Harvard Forest and participated in the Petersham Minstral Shows. In addition to her many civic affiliations, Mrs. Berry held a great interest in crossword puzzles, golfing, bowling, swimming, music and reading. Besides her husband, she is survived by four sons, William L. Berry Jr. and his wife Katherine of Petersham, Edward T. Berry and his wife Jeanne Marie of Orange, Alfred M. Berry and his wife Jill of Petersham and Robert O. Berry and his wife Sharon of Rutland; two daughters, Charlotte B. Kennan and her husband Dana of Petersham and Elinor U. Hutchinson and her husband Carl of Sutton; one sister, Betty Lou Williams and her husband, Owen of Williamsburg, VA; sixteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. A son, James W. Berry of Maryland died in 1959. A daughter, Alice B. Leaders of New Salem died in 1993 and she was predeceased by one grandson, Mark W. Berry of Petersham. Relatives and friends are invited to attend an ecumenical celebration of her life at the First Parish Unitarian, on the Common in Petersham, on Sunday, January 4 at 2PM. Visiting hours in J. EDWARD MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, 137 Main St., Athol are from 7-9 PM Sunday. A Funeral Mass in St. Peters Church, Petersham and burial in West Street Cemetery, Petersham will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions in her memory be made to St. Peter's Church Building and Maintenance Fund, PO Box 36, Petersham, MA 01366 or to the Banstand Fund, Petersham Town Hall, Main St., Petersham, MA 01366. For directions to the funeral home or to sign the online guest book, please visit our website at www.murphysfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home, Athol. $(document).ready(function(){ });