So gently she left.

Marion Alice Shatts Whitaker, 94

Born June 26th,1932 passed on August 21st,2026

She was born the youngest of five children in Mamaroneck, NY and was the last remaining from her family of origin to leave this world; predeceased by her parents W. Phillip and Gladys Garvin Shatts, siblings Silvia, Garvin, Christine, and Oliver "Olly", as well as her son David in 1985 and husband Pete in 2018.

Her childhood was deeply marked by the Great Depression and WWII, as she and many others experienced instability, upheaval, and impermanence. Moves became necessary as her parents sought work as teachers. Marion as a teenager found herself at Daycroft School in Connecticut, where in the summer of '48, both working as camp counselors, she would meet her future husband, Pete Whitaker. He was smitten. Marion, more reserved by nature, was slower to warm. They courted, and following graduation he went on to Bates College in Maine where she would later transfer from Oberlin College in Ohio to join him. Bates became their beloved alma mater. She was described in her senior yearbook as "petite and lively" and made life-long friends there. She was passionate about Modern Dance and Theater and always smart as a whip. She earned a BA in History in 1954 and later wrote: "I graduated in the afternoon, then I changed my cap and gown to my wedding dress. It was a wonderful day. I was ecstatic!'.

Children soon followed. Marion became a mother of five children. She somehow managed to stay true to her interest in politics and literature by holding active roles in the League of Women Voters and local public libraries. Her church, a loving anchor throughout her life, was a place where she found community and felt much at-home. She held leadership roles, taught Sunday school, and volunteered in several capacities with such devotion at First Church of Christ, Scientist in Melrose, MA, then later at First Church of Christ, Scientist in Burlington, VT.

Marion and Pete were married for 63 years. Together they raised their young family on the Northshore of Massachusetts before moving to Richmond, Vermont in 1975. As her children grew up and left the nest, she took a job with the State of Vermont first as a Caseworker, then Supervisor in the Department of Social Welfare (now DCF), expressing her compassion and kindness for those struggling and less fortunate. In her retirement she enjoyed working seasonally at Harringtons during Christmas time. 

She loved history and was involved in Historical Societies and volunteered as a tour guide at the Round Church. She was drawn to interesting old things and was an ardent collector of antiques. She loved working in her garden. She canned, blanched, froze, and pickled everything under the sun. Together with Pete, an enormous and spectacular vegetable bounty was enjoyed for so many years. She was clever and thoughtful and could knit a sweater, hook a wool rug, needlepoint a pillow, crochet a baby blanket for a new member of the family, or embroider a set of pillowcases for a gift. Her small hands could do miraculous things. 

Her caring and quiet wisdom touched many lives. She always said, “just take one step at a time" and that is what we'll have to do without her. She leaves daughter Cherry Reiniger and husband Don of Southington, CT, daughter Sarah Cochran and husband Forrest of Underhill, VT, daughter Rebecca Christensen of Winooski, VT, son Scott Whitaker and wife Cindy of Cedarcrest, NM; along with grandchildren: Matt Reiniger and wife Molly, Amy Duquette and husband Jeff, Bethany White and husband Ryan, Brittany Bartholomew and husband Mark, Kevin Ginter and wife Caroline, Emily Pawlusiak, Madeleine Christensen, Shady Whitaker, and Rose Whitaker; also nineteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A big garden indeed. Family will announce a memorial service at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please honor her by exercising your right to vote, be kind, and dance!