Marion Trehub

West Hartford - Marion (Gitlen) Trehub, 91, beloved wife of George Trehub, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, following a courageous decade-long struggle with Lewy body disease. Those who cared for and about her during those years admired her noble spirit as she dealt with her illness; her character and her beauty shone through until the very end.

Marion was born on Aug. 16, 1921, the first child of Herbert and Yetta (Smith) Gitlen, in Rockville Centre, N.Y., where her father operated the Sophie Tucker Garage. They later moved to Storrs, to Hartford, and ultimately to West Hartford. Marion graduated from Weaver High School, and then attended Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I.

Shortly after graduation, Marion was out walking her dogs and encountered a friend who introduced her to his friend, George Trehub. It was a fateful meeting, as Marion and George fell instantly in love and were married four short months later on Aug. 31, 1941. Following a honeymoon throughout the National Parks of the west and a memorable mule ride down into and up from the floor of the Grand Canyon, they settled in West Hartford and began their 70 years of marriage together.

George passed away in May of 2012, but the love they shared endures in the lives of their children, their grandchildren, their great-grandchild, and their daughters-in-law. Marion and George's children, Claire, Steven, and Martin, had a wonderful childhood with their parents. Summers at Marion's beach cottage at Oak Grove Beach, Niantic, winter trips to Stowe and to Miami Beach were highlights, and the ordinary days of family life were made special by Marion's exquisite homemaking skills, her fine cuisine, and most of all, by her joyous personality. She loved life and enjoyed it to the utmost. She frequently had elegant parties at their home, with 60 or 80 of their closest friends showing up to enjoy her hospitality. And they both loved to attend parties as well, their refrigerator door was usually covered with invitations. Among Marion's hobbies were Chinese cooking, she taught classes; needlepoint with the finest stitches imaginable, she had shows of her work; bridge, she was a life master; and golf, she played until she was nearly 80, and she had shelves full of trophies.

Marion and George were active members of Tumblebrook Country Club for half a century. She loved to fish and would row her children and grandchildren out into Niantic Bay, sometimes they actually caught fish. As a girl, she rode horses on the family farm in Storrs, and she continued to ride after her marriage. She loved to read throughout her life. She always took the New York Times bestseller list to the West Hartford Library and put holds on all the new books. Needless to say, she occasionally got books that she did not like, the Harry Potter series, for example.

Marion and George traveled widely, including a memorable trip to Israel with stops in Rome and Switzerland. They also spent 20 winters in Coronado, Calif., enjoying a lively social scene with other "snowbirds" from all over the country. A special place for many years was Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, where they proudly occupied front row seats and dined out before or after with a group of friends.

The Trehubs were founding members of Beth El Temple and were involved in charitable works in the Jewish community and in the larger community as well. They were very generous with their time and with donations to worthy causes.

Marion is survived by her children, Claire Waller of Niantic, Steven and Pamela Trehub of Placerville, Calif., and Martin and Margaret Trehub of Waterford. She also leaves behind four grandchildren, Alexandra Latham Johnson and Ken of Seattle, Matthew Trehub and Jennifer of Chicago, Sarah Waller of New York City, and Henry Trehub of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; and a great-grandson, Benjamin Johnson of Seattle. Additionally, she is survived by her brothers, Howard Gitlen of Marina del Ray, Calif., and Arnold and Elaine Trehub; former daughter-in-law, Fredda Trehub; nephews, Scott and Jonathan Gitlen and Craig and Aaron Trehub; cousins, Irvin and Faye Krantz, Howard and Elaine Smith, Harvey Smith, Gloria and Edwin Glazer, Marvin and Roberta Smith, and Emma Karlin. Marion will also be missed by her loving caregivers, Nicole Gonsalves and Stephane Julian; special friends, Carolyn Levine and Bernd Kaiser; and a host of other friends. The staff of 3 North at the Hebrew Home were dedicated to her care as well.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m., today, Nov. 20, 2012, at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Ave., West Hartford, with interment following in Beth El Cemetery, Arch Road, Avon. The family will receive friends at Beth El immediately afterwards.

Contributions in Marion's memory may be directed to Foodshare, 450 Woodland Ave., Bloomfield, CT 06002.

Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford.

For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Marion, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm