Marian F. (Preston) Vandevelde

Marian (Preston) VandeVelde, Born December 15, 1922 in Apulia Station, NY, passed away at the age of 100 on March 27, 2023 after a year of health issues.  Marian is survived by her daughter Shirley Bennett Baker (FL), grandchildren Duane Baker (TX) and Denise Baker (NY), who were the highlights of her life. She is also survived by niece Sharon Nedrow, nephew Kevin (Barbara and their 3 daughters) Clifton Springs, NY, Barbara Preston Springfield (TX) and other nieces & nephews.  She is predeceased by her husband Petrus VandeVelde who passed in 1996, a son Ralph Francis Bennett, Jr 1944 at the age of 3 months, her parents Alexa & Ruth Preston (King Ferry) Brothers Ray (Lansing NY), Roy (Ithaca NY) and sister Arlene Nedrow (Clifton Springs, originally Lansing NY), Neice Donna Nedrow Soper (Al) Clifton Springs NY. along with other nieces & nephews.

Marian graduated from King Ferry High School in 1942 and moved to Ithaca where she went to work at the Pocketbook Factory and then on to Ithaca Laundry/Petrillose Cleaners on to the Mall Dry Cleaners where she worked for 30 years, retiring in 2015.  She was a dedicated, hardworking woman, never taking vacation time off and had to be extremely ill to take a sick day. Marian was a member of St. Paul's Methodist Church and always brought donuts for the Children’s Church School.  After her retirement, her favorite pastime was sitting on her front porch, watching, and talking to people as they walked by.  Marian always had a fear of travel; therefore, she never was out of the Ithaca area other than Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands and Pennsylvania.  She enjoyed her home & friends.

There will be a Celebration of her life on Saturday, May 20th, 2:00 - 4:00 pm. at 715 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY. Contributions may be made to Tompkins County SPCA, Ithaca NY or Lakeview Cemetery, c/o site of Ralph F. Bennett, Jr, Ithaca, NY. Online condolences at www.perkinsfh.com