Marlene A. (Opidee) Austin, 49, of
Green Street, Ipswich, died Friday November 7, 2008 in the
Kaplan Hospice House in Danvers following her more than six year
battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. She was the
wife of Douglas “Harv” Austin.
Born in Boston November 12, 1958,
she was the daughter of Mary E. (Flynn) Opidee of Peabody and
the late Michael A. Opidee, Sr. of Peabody and Brewster. She was
raised in South Peabody and was a 1975 graduate of Peabody High
School. She studied floraculture at the Essex Agricultural
Institute, graduating in 1976. Married in 1982, the Austins made
their home in Ipswich. She had a lifelong love of gardening and
growing and worked many years for the Gordon Greenhouse family.
She enjoyed her family, her work and spending time outdoors,
especially in her garden. She also loved to motor about in her
pride and joy, a MGB convertible.
In addition to her husband of
twenty-six years and her mother, she is survived by her sons,
Casey Austin and Jake Austin of Ipswich, her sisters, Marie
Opidee and Marilyn Opidee of Peabody, a sister-in-law, Nancy
Opidee of Danvers, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and
cousins, and a large and endearing circle of friends. She was
predeceased by her brother, Michael A. Opidee, Jr. of Danvers
Her family would like to express
their most sincere gratitude to all who have contributed in some
way to Marlene’s joy and comfort throughout these years. The
Marlene Austin Fund was established early on to assist with the
expenses for her care. Marlene attended and thoroughly enjoyed
every fund raising event from the harbor cruises and dances
coordinated by her cousin Darlene Foley, to the golf tournaments
at Wenham Country Club, the Artist events at the Greenhouse and
many more. The fund will continue to support Families Fighting
ALS.
Her Funeral Mass will be held on
Saturday November 15, at 9 am in Our Lady of Hope Church,
Pineswamp Road, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully
welcomed. There are no visiting hours. Arrangements by the
Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich.
Her family and friends are
planning to establish a garden in her memory and will hold a
garden party in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider
live plants, a contribution to the Marlene Austin Fund, c/o the
Institution of Savings, P.O. Box 32, Ipswich, MA 01938, or to
the North Shore Hospice Kaplan House, 78 Liberty Street,
Danvers, MA, 01923.
