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Marsha Coder Obituary
NORTHBOROUGH - Marsha Robbins Coder passed away on May 6 at UMASS Memorial Hospital at age 64.
Born April 9, 1949 to Monroe and Betty Ann Robbins in Washington DC, Marsha was the eldest of five children. Recently she has recounted memorable stories from her childhood in Silver Spring, MD with her siblings, parents and extended family. She married high school sweetheart Bill in 1972 and they adopted daughter Chrystie in 1980. Opening her heart and family to those closest to Chrystie brought another adult daughter, Kym, in 2001, several "sons of the heart", and two grandchildren into the family.
Having formed a passion for teaching, Marsha received a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland in 1972. She became an outstanding elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New Hampshire, before teaching at the middle school level in the Douglas, MA school system, where she retired in 2008 after 15 years. In her 29 year career she left lasting impressions on many hundreds of students, often remembered for active teaching of math skills, as well as for her well-stocked candy drawer.
Marsha was always a remarkably caring woman, putting others first and expecting nothing in return. Throughout her adult life she struggled with health issues, but maintained a ferocious will to overcome that; she never complained and always had a smile on her face in public. Marsha was often funny without necessarily trying to be and treated strangers as potential friends. Her purse was kept filled with an array of tools and anything one might need to survive an apocalypse, as well as her bubblegum and Diet Coke. She relished her "gorgeous growing grandchildren", arriving with a heart full of love and a car full of gifts.
Favorite hobbies included family travel across North America, birding and gardening with her husband, hunting for shells along beaches, crafts, and shopping for bargains, especially with or for her daughters and grandchildren. Quiet times were often filled with romance novels or meticulously plucking her eyebrows.
Marsha will be thought of every day by her survivors with the joy of knowing her and the sadness of her being taken too soon. Marsha is survived by her husband of 41 years, William Coder of Northborough, MA; parents Monroe and Betty Ann Robbins of Palm Bay, FL; siblings, Leslie Roche of Millington, MD, Richard Robbins of Cherry Hill, NJ, Jack Robbins of Phoenix, AZ and Laurie Robbins of Oakland, CA; daughters Chrystie Coder Caldarella and Kym Coder-Joyce, as well as "sons of the heart" are all of Odenton, MD, Michael Caldarella, Mark Joyce and Christopher Carnesi; so too are her two grandchildren: Riley Caldarella and Eleanor Joyce. Her godson, Jesse Roche of Richmond, VA is among her many nieces and nephews.
Services are private. An online guestbook will be available at Mercadante Funeral Home http://mercadantefuneral.com. Memorial charitable donations: Donate Life America (http://donatelife.net/give-to-dla/) or Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America; see www.ccfa.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Marsha Coder
Aimee Brochu
June 18, 2013
I had Mrs. Coder as my fourth grade teacher. She would always embrace her students with a warm smile and encourage all to try their best. She was always so giving and made it an easy environment to learn in. Mrs.Coder was not only a wonderful teacher but a great person as well. I can't thank her enough for what she taught me. It was my honor to be one of her students.
P.S. It took me awhile to figure out she didn't really have an Aunt Sally! I will miss her!
Alicia Grimaldo
June 14, 2013
I had the privilege of meeting Marsha and the Coder Family. They are wonderful people and my heart goes out to them during this difficult time.
Leslie Rutan
June 13, 2013
Thinking of you, Bill. Marsha was such a sweet person, and I recall her bubbly personality when you first moved to the neighborhood!
Bill Coder
June 7, 2013
I wanted to share this musical tribute to Marsha that came courtesy of Sharon and Nat Winer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFW40Ht9U_o&feature=youtu.be
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Leslie Roche
June 3, 2013
My sister was my best friend and my teacher. I will always miss my Mish. We grew up together and shared the same bedroom for 22 years. I will miss her forever!
Sara McDonald
May 28, 2013
Oh, the lives you've touched! There are many things I remember about Mrs. Coder's class, the "un-birthdays" and the bag of candy you'd get on date she'd pick for your b-day, making marble necklaces w/ fancy fabric and who can forget the stock market?
Teaching Middle School is a craft, and did she ever know her craft well! I appreciate the high expectations she set for her students all the while being supportive in nature.
(DHS class of 1999)
Angela Penta
May 28, 2013
Mrs. Coder will surely be missed, although it was more than 15 years ago that I was in her classroom I remember her lessons and energy daily. I was so sad to learn of her passing, she will forever be in my heart! A teacher that truly cared for every child.
Evelyn Grovesteen
May 26, 2013
So sorry to learn of Marsha's passing. She was a sweet lady and an asset to our math dept. at DHS.
Jen R.N
May 24, 2013
sorry for your loss
Linda Shorey
May 23, 2013
God bless you, Marsha and family. You are all in my prayers.
S. H.
May 22, 2013
Love you Mrs. Coder. Thanks for everything. Wish you were here.
Emily (Vaillant) Mayo
May 22, 2013
When I was a first year teacher in Douglas, Marsha took me under her wing and showed me the ropes. She was full of pep and life and excitement for teaching, and her enthusiasm was infectious. I loved teaching next door to her for four years and am so thankful that she was my mentor in my early years. She loved what she did, and better than that, she genuinely loved ALL of her students. The lessons she taught me 16 years ago are still with me today and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Marsha. The impact you made on the children of Douglas will live forever in their hearts.
Charles Trenbeth
May 22, 2013
I am a first cousin of Bill Coder, and although I never had the opportunity to meet Marsha, I had heard so many good things about her, that I knew that she was a most wonderful person. I'm terribly sad that she is gone.
May 22, 2013
Thank you Mrs. Coder for being the most enthusiastic and creative teacher I've ever had. You engaged us with your funny stories, exciting projects and crazy but inspiring teaching methods. Along the way, we learned so much more than math from you. Thank you for pushing me to always do better and believe in myself.
Mike Gonynor
May 22, 2013
Thank you to Mrs Coder for being such a great teacher. She was my homeroom teacher and first period math teacher. It was always challenging to meet her energy that early in the morning but I am a better person for it. She made such a difference in our lives. The kids of Douglas were lucky to have her. God Bless to her family.
Katelyn Aguiar
May 22, 2013
I was so sad to hear of your passing, Mrs. Coder. An immensely bright light has been extinguished on earth, but has definitely become one of the brightest stars in the heavens. You were such an amazing teacher, so enthusiastic, loving, and smart.
I will never forget you
Zoie Bleau
May 22, 2013
I was so blessed to have Mrs.Coder as a teacher in Douglas Middle School and I will never forget the joy she brought everyday to class and the wisdom she shared with us all, best wishes to Mrs.Coder's family and friends. What a truly extraordinary woman.
Katherine Pezzella
May 22, 2013
Mrs. Coder was definitely one of the most memorable teachers in the entire Douglas school system. She was charismatic, incredibly caring, and crazy in the best way possible - Douglas' very own Mrs. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. I never returned my peanut in 8th grade because I always wanted to remember her by it and I always will. I will keep her family in my prayers. Thank you for sharing her with all of us!
Brianne Ebbeling
May 22, 2013
I'm so blessed to have Mrs.Coder as my 6th grade math teacher. I believe every student looked forward to going to her classes. Whether it was the peanut,PEMDAS,candy or the gel pens we all have our own memories from that class. She was a true role model and always willing to help anyone out. RIP Mrs. Coder - you will be greatly missed.
Nicolette Harding
May 22, 2013
Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally! Thank you Mrs. Coder for adding your own vim and vigor to teaching. The year I was in her sixth grade class in douglas was the year she was absent for a good portion. We had a number of substitutes but I remember how excited we all were when she came back to class. She was the real thing. I'm very sorry to hear of her passing and grateful for the time she gave us all. Prayers to her family.
Paul Maynard
May 22, 2013
Mrs. Coder was my 6th grade math teacher she taught me so many math tricks and made learning math fun.She was one amazing teacher. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Chelsey Fortier
May 22, 2013
My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Coder's family. She helped me daily not only in 6th grade math but throughout the my life. She will be missed by all.
Samantha Martinsen
May 22, 2013
Rest in peace Mrs. Coder! I had Mrs. Coder for a teacher at Douglas Middle School. She was amazing and knew how to truly engage her students to help them learn. Her positive attitude and fun way of teaching is something that I will never forget. I also still have my peanut... If you had her, you know what I'm talking about. My thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.
Hope Field
May 22, 2013
Mrs. Coder taught my 6th grade math class and even though I disliked math, Mrs. Coder tried to make it fun and easier to understand. Not all teachers had the spunk that she did, which is what made her special. May you rest in peace
Amanda Watson
May 22, 2013
This news saddens me. I had Mrs. Coder at Douglas Middle School. She was full of smiles and happiness. She taught me many tricks in math which was a subject I struggled in. She never lost her patience with me and did everything in her power to help me succeed. I am currently 30 years old and she is one that I still have never forgotten. I remember her standing on her desk and jumping up and down and screaming PEMDAS "please excuse my dear aunt Sally". I never forgot the order in operation thanks to her. She will be missed by me forever. She was a teacher that defiantly made a mark on my heart! Miss and Love you!
May 22, 2013
Mrs. Coder was my sixth grade math teacher and one of the most influential educators in my life. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Ashley Doherty
Andrew Galvin
May 22, 2013
you were the most inspirational teacher i ever had in middle school and ill never forget please excuse my dear aunt sally!!
May 21, 2013
Our prayers are with you Bill and Chrystie and your families! We are so sorry for your tremendous loss. May Marsha rest in peace without any more discomfort or pain. God Bless you all. Marsha will be truly missed. She was a very special lady!
Love Kathy and Bruce Reilly
Jack Robbins
May 21, 2013
May you continue to shine bright with your wonderful smile
Jack Robbins
May 21, 2013
My sister was a special person who will be missed by many especially me. May you find peace, salt bagels with white fish, diet coke in heaven. Know how much we love you always - Love Jack
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