Obituary of Marianne Newcomb

Marianne Newcomb Age 72, beloved wife of Geoffrey; loving mother of Megan (Leung) Wong and Brian (Jennifer) Newcomb; dearest grandmother of Lillian and Jaden Wong; Aleister, Saige, and Deakon Newcomb; dear sister of William, James and John Work. Nieces, nephews and their children survive. Marianne was born in Ottumwa , Iowa . Second only to her devotion to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, music personified Marianne. Music was her chosen vocation, her hobby, her recreation, and her entertainment. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Bemidji State College ( Minnesota ) in 1959, with a double major in Elementary Instrumental Music Supervision and Vocal Music Supervision. She began her public school teaching career in Grand Rapids , Minnesota , where she met Geoffrey Newcomb, a Lieutenant at the Air Force Station. They were married in Ottumwa , Iowa , in January, 1962. In 1963, they moved to California where she taught music for the Santa Clara County schools, then for Santa Rosa area schools. Choosing to return to the Midwest in 1966, they settled in Michigan , where Marianne taught in the Birmingham schools. A year later, she chose the life of a stay-at-home mom-to-be. She was a wonderful and caring mother to Megan and Brian, deeply engaged in their upbringing. She encouraged their educational and musical interests and enjoyed swimming, spending many summer days at the neighborhood beach. For the following 37 years she provided private lessons in her home. Though she never really advertised, she enjoyed high esteem for her teaching. A few of her students were referred to her by public school teachers she'd never even met, and at its peak she had as many as 42 students each week. She had an innate ability to relate to children and motivate their successful learning. Marianne was active in many music organizations, including the Tuesday Musicale of Greater Pontiac, directing their Adelle Thomas Hand Bell Choir for many years. She also directed the hand bell choir at her church in Pontiac , and enjoyed immensely singing alto in the chorus for Handel's Messiah for many years at Orchard Lake Community Church . Marianne went to her reward on Sunday, October 11, 2009. A Memorial Service will be held at the Advent Episcopal Church, 3325 Middlebelt Rd., (North of Long Lake), West Bloomfield, 48323, Sunday, October 18th at 2 p.m. The family will receive visitors from 12:30 until 2 p.m. A luncheon will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to either Advent Episcopal Church, or American Cancer Society-Patient Navigatiion Services, 225 N Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL. 60601. Please share a memory of Marianne in her guestbook.