Marjorie Marie Rogers Thibodeau

Marjorie Marie (Rogers) Thibodeau died December 31, 2019 at her home in Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.

Marjorie ''Margie'' ''Mickey'' was born at home on September 6, 1933 to Clarence Edward Rogers and Lillian Johannah (Reusch) Rogers in Rhinebeck, NY. Marjorie grew up in Rhinebeck, along with her siblings, Clarence "Clem" (Lillian Staub), Phyllis (Royal Briggs), Irving "Buddy," and Dorothy "Dottie" (Elmer Coon). She graduated from Rhinebeck High School, having created memories with her classmates that lasted her lifetime and which always made her smile. From there, she attended Krissler Business School in Poughkeepsie.

Marjorie eloped with Edgar Louis Thibodeau in 1953. (They didn't go far to do so, simply one block over from the Rogers's home on East Market St., to the Reformed Church parsonage on South Street.) When Edgar gave her the choice of a wedding ring or a plot of land, she chose the latter, which was on Salisbury Turnpike Road in the area known as Eighmeyville. (And she eventually got her wedding ring, too--always a wise woman.) There, with the essential know-how help of family members, they built their home. And there they raised their two children, Jeffery (Luann Bylsma) of Rockwall, TX and Alison (Richard Martín) of Boquerón, PR, and at times, their niece, Amy Briggs (Terry Kilmer) of Red Hook, NY. Visiting with extended family and large holiday get togethers were an important and regular part of their life, and their home soon became one of the joyous family gathering places.

Marjorie, like many of her generation, started working early, her particular course including in Poughkeepsie at DeLaval and Western Printing; in Rhinebeck at Bakers' Pharmacy as a soda jerk, the Telephone Company as an operator, for Rhinebeck schools as a bus driver and assistant librarian, from home as an Avon and Amway saleswoman, and in various capacities in the offices of the Beekman Arms, the Reformed Church, and Camp Ramapo.

Marjorie was baptized and brought up in the Rhinebeck Reformed Church. As an adult, she, along with Edgar, was very active in church life, especially in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s when there were Sunday School classrooms filled to capacity; a vibrant weekly youth group meeting Sunday nights; a Dorcas Guild (women's philanthropic/mission group) that was a creative hub of energetic, supportive, and highly invested members of all ages; many opportunities to take up a utensil or tool and help in the church kitchen or with the grounds or building; and a church library to create and maintain. These among other things, all resulted in a keen sense and reality of church family, as people served, learned, worshipped, laughed, and cried together, forging along the way, lifelong friendships rooted in Christ. Marjorie's roots and flourishing abounded in that church family.

Family vacations for the Thibodeaus mostly involved camping in their Skamper pop-up, often included a niece or nephew or two, and was usually with their friends and their families. They also made some ''real'' camping trips into the wilderness with canoes and tents. When Marjorie and Edgar retired, they took their love of camping to the next level by selling their home and hitting the road in their truck and 5th wheel trailer. They travelled extensively through the United States and eastern Canada, usually with grandkids in tow. (Edgar to Marjorie: ''Why do we have to go to Europe, we haven't seen all the states, yet.''  Thankfully, Marjorie got in one trip to Europe (in the 70s), which was memorable and not only because she was a youth group chaperone.) 

No matter what she set her heart, mind and hands on, whether in their home, at work, at church, with family or friends, out and about in the village, or on the road, Marjorie excelled because she lived and did all with love and good humor. And this was most beautifully expressed in how she related to others with unconditional love and the ability to laugh at herself. The combination of her natural demeanor, intelligence, and her faith instilled her with a confidence that gave her the freedom to lift others up and help them to shine. 

Along with, and part of, all of the above, some of what Marjorie enjoyed over the years was sharing lives over a cup of tea with family and friends, playing card and board games, bowling, genealogy digging (her own and for others) and cemetery searching, doing various kinds of puzzles, reading, singing hymns and traveling ditties, open-mindedly discussing theology and politics, and watching sunsets (though she did get up early enough once to watch a sunrise with Edgar). Two things Marjorie wanted to do but never got around to were taking a hot air balloon ride and going to clown school.

Marjorie is survived by her children; grandchildren, Gregory Martinez Thibodeau (Cheryl Martinez), Patrick Thibodeau (Jessica High), Riali Martín (Liz Pérez), and Chayen Martín; great grandchildren, June, Beck, Sophia, Sebastian, and Gohan; brother, Irving ''Buddy'' Rogers; her close cousin, Beatrice (Merrihew) Jochum; brothers-and-sister-in-law, Douglas Thibodeau, Ronald Thibodeau, and Leona (Ken) Whiting; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Marjorie was predeceased by her parents; husband; siblings Clarence, Phyllis, and Dorothy; other relatives and friends.

From Alison:
When I was in my early twenties, I wanted to do something not in line with Mom's morality and I wanted to pull her into a debate about it. But Mom had the wisdom to simply tell me, "Alison, adults don't need approval from other adults when they want to do something.'' It seemed that the sentiment of freedom that the rebellious part of me longed to have since I was 14, should have been mine with her words, however what came through loud and clear was a sudden weight of responsibility for my own actions. And with that verbal release into adulthood, Mom graciously opened the door for me to become her friend and her confidant. A daughter cannot hope for a richer relationship with her mother than this. 

But Mom's journey of spreading love in the lives of us has come to an end. She saw 2019 to its conclusion, moving Heavenward from her home in PR, on December 31. 

As the hearse drove away, I stood on her upstairs porch with fireworks illuminating the sky for 360 degrees around. And in following suit with our yearly ritual, I banged on a saucepan with a large spoon and quietly said, "Happy New Year, Mom.'' I know that her days for eternity -- where every day is today -- will truly be blessed.

Mom always told us, "Bloom where you are planted,'' and ''God is Love.'' And once we, her children and grandchildren were married, she added, ''Be kind to each other.''

If you would like to spread a little bit more of Mom's love and kindness on this earth, feel free to donate to one of the following organizations that she supported.

Or just do some blooming where you are. Mom's favorite user id icon was a square with the words inside: peace hope love. That is what she sowed.

Rhinebeck Reformed Church: https://www.rhinebeckreformed.org/
The Rhinebeck Reformed Church has nurtured and been an integral part of the lives of at least 6 generations of the Rogers/Sagendorf family.

Friends of Rhinebeck Cemetery: http://friendsofrhinebeckcemetery.org/
Mom and I spent many hours haunting cemeteries and archives in the States and Canada, while pursuing our shared passion of genealogy. We have quite a few ancestors in the Rhinebeck Cemetery on Mill Street, and Mom will be buried there with them come summer. 

Ramapo for Children: https://ramapoforchildren.org
Mom first worked at Camp Ramapo in Rhinebeck when she was 16 years old, babysitting for the director's children. And after a host of jobs in Rhinebeck and Poughkeepsie, she once again returned to Ramapo in 1980 and retired from there in 1996. (I always found it suspicious that she worked in our high school library from 1972 (when my brother entered high school) until 1980 (when I left high school). I didn't think we were THAT troublesome.)

Joni & Friends: https://www.joniandfriends.org/
Joni and Friends were helpful in meeting the need of a handicapped equipped van for my brother, and Mom liked to support those who are supporting others.

A Well-Fed World: https://awellfedworld.org/gifts/

A few Christmases our gift from Mom included our choice of livestock to donate. However, we've updated to plants. Scrolling through Mom's FB page, I found this organization, as well, that she had donated to: Action Against Hunger
https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/

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