Dorla M. Marsh

Dorla May Marsh (Rabenstein), 91, of Berkshire, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2020 at home with her family by her side. She was predeceased by her loving  husband of 63 years (Perry) DeForest Marsh; her brothers, Charles and Robert (Carol) Rabenstein; her daughter, Barbara Hover; her great granddaughters, Kenzee Wheeler , Willa and Nora Dullen; her sons-in-law, Gary Knickerbocker and Ed Slack.  She is survived by her children: Iva Jean Tennant, Harrison (Rotha) Marsh, Janet Knickerbocker, Perry (Sue) Marsh, Marjorie (Lew) Bailey, Marolyn Slack, and Carolyn (Kevin) Foster; 25 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Lois Stafford and sister-in-law, Doris Rabenstein.
Dorla was born on June 21, 1928 in Berkshire, the daughter of the late Joseph and Lena (Colby) Rabenstein. She graduated from Newark Valley High School in 1947 and married her lifelong love, DeForest, on June 29, 1947. Working alongside her husband on the family dairy farm she lovingly raised their eight children. Dorla worked for Smith Corona and Cornell until her retirement. She was an active member of the Center Lisle Church and Church Guild, known for the many pies baked for various church dinners and the Food Booth at the fair. Dorla participated in the  Civil Defense, Grange, and Farm Bureau. She enjoyed reading, gardening, square dancing, ice skating, playing piano, and traveling with family especially to the beach.  Putting others’ needs ahead of hers, she was a loving, caring, and hardworking family-centered woman who welcomed so many children into her home.  She will be greatly missed by all, including her “SnapChat Sunday” followers.

A funeral service and celebration of her life will be held at the Center Lisle Congregational Church on January 26th. Her family will receive friends from 1-2 PM at church prior to her service. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donations in her memory to The Center Lisle Congregational  Church, 9670 NY St Rt 79, Lisle, NY 13797. OR “The Kenzee Jean Wheeler Memorial “ account at SEFCU, 4 Crescent Drive, Kirkwood, NY 13795 c/o Iva Jean Tennant.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorla M. Marsh, please visit our floral store.