GABLE, Marianne T. (McGrail) December 26, 1948 – December 1, 2023. Of Lancaster, NY. Beloved wife of Greg Gable; loving mother of Julie (TK) Flynn and Karen (Matthew) Robinson; dearest grandmother of McKenzie, Riley and Laney Flynn, Catherine and Maren Robinson; sister of John (Sharon) and Joseph (Lois); sister-in-law of Gretchen (Don), Mary, Judy (Ken), and John (Diane); also survived by many loving nieces/ nephews and their families.

Marianne was born and raised in Ontario, Canada by gentle, loving parents. She taught elementary school at the beginning of her career. While traveling with a friend overseas, she met Greg on a train in Copenhagen, Denmark. After a long-distance Canadian-US courtship, the two married, settled in Lancaster, and started their family.

After staying home with their daughters for many years, Marianne returned to the field of education as a teacher's assistant. She started in Amherst, then spent several years working in Lancaster Schools, until her retirement in 2008. She was grateful for the many friendships she formed while she was working. Marianne enjoyed all of her students throughout the years, and still gets cards/letters from a few. There was one student, though, with whom she worked very closely for 9 years. He truly became a part of her family, and always held a very special place in her heart.

When Marianne retired, she spent her time devoted to people and hobbies she loved. She would jump in the car at a moment's notice to care for her granddaughters if they needed to stay home from daycare or school. She also volunteered many hours at her church, becoming involved in St. Vincent DePaul, Ladies of Charity, crocheting prayer shawls, baking for funeral brunches at the church, etc. She enjoyed the time she spent doing this, and the people she met while involved there.

Marianne was very creative. She mastered many art forms throughout her life. She took a cake-decorating course, and her daughters remember fondly all of the amazing birthday cakes she made for them.  She also learned calligraphy, which she put to good use creating all of the kindergarten graduation certificates during her time as a teacher's assistant. When tole painting was popular, Marianne bought herself a jigsaw, cut and sanded her own pieces, and painted them as gifts for friends and family. She was a talented seamstress, sewing a wedding dress for her oldest daughter, as well as the bridesmaids' dresses for both of her daughters' weddings. Her 5 granddaughters also benefited from this talent…many adorable outfits and amazing Halloween costumes were made over the years! Marianne enjoyed cooking, baking, knitting, crocheting, quilting, and doing cross-stitch. She treasured time spent in a quilting group with a dear friend of hers. In her final years, it was important to Marianne to make a quilt for each of her granddaughters. After finishing a quilt for their beds, she wanted to complete one last "creative hurrah" for the girls. She worked tirelessly to make a holiday lap-quilt for each of them before Christmas. She didn't have the strength to complete them on her own at that point. Greg, knowing how important this was to her, stepped in to help her cut all the squares and manipulate the fabric as she sewed, so she could finish the project. Needless to say, the quilts are treasured by their granddaughters.

Marianne battled illness for several years before her passing. With help from Hospice of Buffalo, she was able to remain at home, as she wished. In the weeks and months before she passed, she was surrounded by friends and family. The Hospice nurses and aides were such a blessing. The morning of Friday, December 1st, family members sat holding her hands, and listening to Marianne's Elvis Presley record in the background. Marianne drew her last breaths just as the song, "Peace in the Valley" began playing. Elvis sang, "till the Lord comes and calls me away" as Marianne was peacefully called home.

As friends and family offered condolences this week, many fondly recalled her beautiful smile, her infectious laugh, and her unending kindness. She will be dearly missed.

A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary's of the Assumption Church in Lancaster, NY on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 9:30am. No prior visitations, per Marianne's wishes.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a small donation in Marianne's memory to:

·       Hospice of Buffalo ~ They provided wonderful, loving care for Marianne. We can't thank them enough. (https://www.hospicebuffalo.com/give-get-involved/donate-now)

·       St. Vincent DePaul's Society of St. Mary's Church in Lancaster, NY ~ Marianne and Greg have been involved with this organization for many years. (Contact: Jim Snyder (716) 395-5677)

·       A2Empowerment ~ a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women through education, which was founded by a very dear friend of the family. Marianne enthusiastically supported this organization, and loved hearing updates about the girls' accomplishments in school and beyond.  (a2empowerment.org)

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