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Mary Susan (Sue) Marlowe, wonderful role model

February 18, 2017

Sue Marlowe, 94, passed peacefully Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, at Harbor Healthcare Nursing Home in Lewes, whose quality care and kindness enhanced her last year.

Sue was born June 22, 1922, in Detroit, Mich., to George A. Marlowe and Gladys Hope Connor Marlowe. She is predeceased by her parents; her three brothers; and survived by her only child, Michael J. Zajic and spouse Elisabeth of Lewes; her sister-in-law Lucille Marlowe; loving and devoted nieces Pamela Marlowe Burch, Linda Marlowe Brannam, Claudia Marlowe, Judy Martineck, Diane Atwood, Karen Rosenbaum, Sheila Brown, Terri Thaler and Lois Alward; and nephews Christopher Marlowe, Robert S. Marlowe Jr., Gregory Marlowe, Errol Payne, John Rosenbaum, Richard Rosenbaum, and the spouses and children of all; as well as several first cousins, nationwide.

Sue buried her second husband of 24 years, Marvin Rosenbaum, in 1985 in Denver, Colo. She is survived by her first husband John Zajic, 93, of Charlottesville, Va.

After a long and interesting career, Sue retired to Lewes and became a member of the Presbyterian Church of Lewes, a volunteer docent for the Lewes Historical Society for years at the Ryves Holt House, the CHEER Center, and an active member for many years of P.E.O., an all-women's organization here and nationwide.

Sue is well known and loved here in Lewes and the Cape Region, and always remembered for her tiny perfection (56 inches tall) and her hats. Appropriate to this historic town, her ancestors and relatives were the founders of this country who participated in government, military, religion, education, and all the major wars from the Revolution to the Vietnam War. She was a patriot.

Prior to retiring, she was employed as secretary to the president of the American Publishing Association, secretary for many years to the Mayor of Denver, and, earlier, secretary to the Postmaster General in Denver. Before that, for 20 years, she was the aide for constituent services to successive Republican members of the U.S. Congress.

She was a long-time member of the League of Women Voters. She started work as a secretary at the Census Bureau at the beginning of the Second World War, after graduating from Surratsville Senior High School in Clinton, Md., in 1939.

Sue loved everyone, especially the family children, to whom she was a mentor. She is adored by all her nieces, all of whom said she taught them how to be confident, to look after themselves, and to be successful women, both by counsel and example, and most of all by accepting love. This power grew out of her own discovery of the challenges to women early in the emergence of women from homemaker into the work world.

Kind to everyone, she particularly nurtured her son and all young people with a knack for making them all feel very special. She helped many troubled people, friends, co-workers, and relatives, to survive the many blows of life, and try again. She is enshrined like an angel of light and love in many hearts she touched over her lifetime. Immaculate, sunny natured, but without vanity, she was all about self-respect and love, diligent work ethic, personal responsibility, and family joys. When her name is mentioned to any who knew her, a big happy smile appears instantly. Part of her power was that she was a great and sincere listener.

A niece in California wrote: "Alas, Aunt Sue was a one of a kind. Such a sweet, sweet lady. A maven of style with her jewelry, hats and scarves. A role model for spunk! I always loved spending time with her. " And a niece in Texas wrote: "She is the kind of person we all want to grow up to be like."

Sue's family, friends, and fellow congregants are invited to her funeral at the historic Lewes Presbyterian Church at 133 Kings Highway, Lewes, Saturday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. There will be an open coffin before the service for those who wish to come early for viewing, followed by a service with music, brief testimonials, refreshments in the church, followed by interment in the church's historic cemetery. Her monument will be engraved: "A Rock of Love Forever in the Hearts of Family and Friends."

Memorial gifts may be by check to the First Presbyterian Church, at the above address, designated for the "Soup Fellowship" the volunteers of which feed many seniors and others with need, or to a charity of your choice.

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