Marlene Jabar

WATERVILLE – Marlene Jabar, 90, of Zephyrhills, Fla., and Waterville, passed away peacefully on Aug. 21, 2023, at Woodlands Assisted Living in Waterville, with family members by her side. After enduring the loss of her husband Tony in June, it seemed only a matter of time before her heart – filled with his loss – could no longer stand the pain of missing him. We are heartened in the belief that they are together again, without physical limitations or burdened by dementia. 

For the last two years we have had the good fortune to spend much more time with Mom. She and Dad both lived at the Woodlands and every day possible she spent with Tony at the Memory Care unit. As her physical condition weakened and Dad’s dementia took over, they spent less and less time together. This undoubtedly was difficult for Mom, but she would go as often as she could, content to just be with him and hold his hand. 

Marlene was born Oct. 8, 1932, to Dorothea (Ivers) and Alden Hurd. She was the older of two children. Her brother Charlie was only a year younger than she. They were extremely close and so was devastated by his passing in January of 2023. She was raised predominantly by her mother and therefore was often the head of the household. She often talked fondly about growing up on High Street and about Myrtle Street School. She was an excellent athlete, and a fierce competitor, excelling in badminton, skating, basketball, cheering, and as an adult she was a spectacular golfer. She was an excellent student and a voracious reader. But her greatest love was Tony. They met in junior high and that would be the beginning of a lifetime together. They would go together all through high school. 

She and Tony both went to Colby, graduating together in 1954. They married on June 20, 1954. They would then spend 18 months in Germany where Tony was stationed, and their daughter Jan was born. They spent time traveling all over Europe and making lifelong friends. Their love for travel would continue throughout their lives.

Once home, they first lived in Auburn, then Dryden, then Wilton. Mom taught Physical Education and Health and coached field hockey at Farmington High School. They moved back to Waterville in 1966. She substituted for several years, then in 1973 she began teaching English at Waterville High School. She was extremely proud of her time at Waterville. She loved her students and loved the school environment. Her coworkers were her second family and her senses of humor and prankster personality made for a memorable and fun-filled career. She was a generous soul and was known to anonymously donate to needy students. Her enthusiasm for all that was Waterville High School was demonstrated by the number of programs/activities she initiated either by herself or by ‘convincing others to help her’: ‘Spirit Week’, ‘Spirit Club’, GAA, making the well-known flower arches for graduation, class advisor, and Friday afternoon ‘seminars’ to name a few.

Retiring in 1992, she filled her days with tennis, golf, decorating for holidays, following her grandchildren, and reading. Always the teacher, she enjoyed immensely her golf outings with her children and grandchildren teaching them the game she came to be so good at herself. In 1994 after Tony retired, they headed to Florida. There they spent their time golfing, enjoying visits from her children and grandchildren and entertaining her neighbors on Kimela Ave. in Zephyrhills, Fla. Always wanting to be busy, she painted, made cards, started writing – often writing about her grandkids, and any other activity that was available. The Kimela neighborhood was the place to be, and Marlene very often was the host of the neighborhood gatherings – in particular during football season. They absolutely adored living there and they became her second family. Our family can never thank the Kimela friends enough for their love and friendship and especially for looking after them as they grew older.

Marlene was extremely proud of her five children: Jan Riley (Mike), Tony Jr., Jody Veilleux (David), MaryJo Hodgkin (Jim), and sister, Michele Jabar.

She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She shopped every holiday for all of them, never missed a birthday, or anniversary, or special event. She didn’t hesitate to fly to Maine or New Jersey to attend a game or a play, or any other special occasion. She was dearly loved as “Grammy” by 12 grandchildren: Joni (Ramon) Zarate, Matt (Sara) Riley, Erin (Bobbie) Poller, David (Michelle) Veilleux, Dylan (Jane) Veilleux, Anthony Jabar III, Kellyn (Dan) Torcascio, Jaime (Tom) Cooper, Jessica Hodgkin, Cody Veilleux, Ben Hodgkin and Jake Hodgkin. As well as 12 great-grandchildren; Raz, Taylor, Jack R., Althea, Cora, Callan, Cameron, Connor, Cole, Carter, Jack C. and Tatyana.

Marlene is also survived by brothers-in law Norman and Joe Jabar, sisters-in law Mary Hurd, Regina Santos, Marge Jabar, Rene Jabar, Pat Jabar, and cousin Marlene Marchetti, as well as a multitude of loving nieces and nephews. 

Marlene was predeceased by her parents, brother Charlie, as well as brothers-in law Herb, John and Paul Jabar, Ted Santos and Earl Lee, sisters-in law Teresa Lee, Margaret, June and Jackie Jabar.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the ENTIRE staff at The Woodlands facility and the nurses of Androscoggin Home Health who took such wonderful care of Mom. They were her family and she loved them as she did her own. 

A mass will be held on October 28, 11 a.m., at Notre Dame Church in Waterville. Family and Friends are invited to a reception following the mass.

Funeral Services are under the direction of Dan and Scott’s Cremation and Funeral Services, Farmington, Maine. Complete obituary and online condolences may be expressed at http://www.dsfuneral.com/obituaries/.