Milford, NH — Marion Margaret (Hall) Foss, 91, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 21, 2017 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Nashua NH.
Marion was born to Harold and Jessie (Walinsky) Hall in the spring of 1926 in Providence, RI. After moving to Worcester she attended Commerce High School, and while roller skating with friends met the love of her life, Dwight Oscar Foss, Sr. They came from different worlds; Marion a good Catholic girl, Dwight a Scandinavian Protestant (a scandalous combination at that time), and the world was chaos; WWII was raging, Dwight had enlisted in the Navy, but Marion and Dwight were in love – a love that would stand strong for 62 years. They married at the Worcester Courthouse on July 23rd, 1943.
During the war, Marion stood by her husband, embraced his family, and began to raise a family of her own with Dwight. Not an easy feat, and she would often tell the story of taking the Worcester train to Mississippi to see her husband by way of a train car packed with sailors, other military wives, and travelers; alone with a purse full of cloth diapers and a year-old Dwight Jr. under her arm. That fierce love of family and determined spirit lasted her entire life.
Marion and Dwight built a home together is Shrewsbury, MA, where they lived for several decades. A hard worker and a talented cook, Marion’s smile and grace made everyone feel special in her establishment - the popular Marion’s Pioneer Restaurant in Shrewsbury that ran for many years. Her hands never idle; she was always cooking, crocheting, gardening, or hugging one of her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of Salem Covenant Church, Shrewsbury Baptist Church, the Women’s Auxiliary Post, and the Senior Center of Pepperell, MA - where she and Dwight lived happily for several years.
She is predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Dwight O. Foss, Sr. and her daughter JoAnn Young of Clearwater, FL. Marion leaves her brother Harold & Sylvia Hall, her three sons; Dwight & Hiromi Foss, Clifford Foss, and Roger & Liz Foss; daughter Kristina & David Hickman; and son-in-law David Young. She also leaves grandchildren Pamela Brennan, Ed Foss, Amy LeBlanc, Carl Foss, Anna Dionne, Emily Foss, Caroline Foss, Cady Hickman, Naval Petty Officer Chris Johnson, Zack Hickman, many greatgrandchildren, cousin Mickey Dumas of Fort Pierce, FL, and many friends.
Please join us for calling hours to be held on Thursday, April 27th from 5-7 pm, with a service at 7 pm - all to be held at the Nordgren Funeral Home, 300 Lincoln Street Worcester. Following cremation, burial will be held at a later date at Mountain View Cemetery in Shrewsbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marion’s memory may be made to The Neuropathy Association (visit foundationforpn.org), or the VFW (visit vfw.org). For directions, or to leave an online condolence message, please click link.