Marion F. Boardway

Marion F. "Marny" Boardway, after having been blessed to be able to attend her son's wedding in August of last year, celebrate her 75th birthday last November, and then her 50th wedding anniversary on August 19 of this year, passed away peacefully at home on September 27, 2022.

Knowing how much she did not appreciate a thunder and lightning storm, and having experienced firsthand the aftermath from Hurricane Charley in 2004, Marny decided that with all things considered, she would not be riding out the storm when Hurricane Ian arrived the next day.

Marny was born in Gloversville, NY, on November 30, 1946, to Muriel A. (Managun) Fox and Donald W. Fox. She graduated from Gloversville High School in 1964. As for how she graduated, based on the story revealed only a few years ago, of having received "below passing" grades in multiple courses and on multiple Regents exams, we honestly do not know. You have to imagine a family dinner at Raindancer Restaurant, school-aged grandchildren present, and an unexpected conversation that led to comments like, "I passed the class, but failed the Regents," and vice versa. Amidst the laughter, the more we asked, the worse it got. Once all had been revealed, the conversation ended with a simple, "Well, I had fun," and on that note, we shook our heads, smiled, and considering the source, said, "Yeah, that makes sense."

Following her graduation from high school, Marny received her B.S. from SUNY at Oneonta in 1968, and her M.S. from SUNY at Albany in 1973. Upon her graduation from Oneonta, Marny began her 30-year career as a math teacher with the Gloversville Enlarged School District; first, at the former Estee Junior High School from 1968 until 1972, and then, at Gloversville High School from 1972 until her retirement in 1998.

While retired, Marny filled her days golfing, volunteering with the Nathan Littauer Hospital Auxiliary, playing mahjong and Words with Friends, watching her favorite game shows - old and new, travelling and visiting with family and friends, and designing and decorating a new family home in Lake Suzy, Florida, where she and Paul would reside each winter.

As a member of Pine Brook Golf Course and Kingsway Country Club, Marny spent many happy days golfing with friends, playing in tournaments, planning events, and enjoying any occasion for which there was reason to gather. There were also championship wins and a couple of hole-in-one celebrations along the way.

In addition to her husband, Paul, Marny is survived by her daughter, Kristine, and grandsons, Evan and Brady; her son, Scott, and his wife, Amanda, and grand-kitties, Basia and Jasper; step-sons, Paul Tukey (Katie) and Randy Boardway; step-grandchildren, Christina Kapala and family, Tara Allen and family, Sienna Jordan and family, Duke Tukey, Aimee Tukey, and Angie Tukey; nephew, Jeff Fox, and his wife, Sue, and their children, Kyle and Shane; niece, Traci Maurer, and her husband, John, and their children, Brendan and Madeline; niece, Brandi Fox; and cousins, Larry Doubleday and Doug Doubleday, and their families.

Marny was predeceased by her mother, her father, and her brother, James (Jim) Fox, and his wife of 46 years, Patricia (Pat) Fox, all of whom she had missed dearly, and with whom we are certain she has been joyfully reunited, just as she prayed she would one day be. She most definitely had a big hug for her mother and thanked her for all of the prayers that she answers for family and friends. We imagine she is enjoying leisurely games of cribbage with her father. And we have no doubt that she and Jim have been routinely engaging in "healthy debates," as Pat helps to keep the peace.

Throughout their 50 years of marriage, Marny and Paul enjoyed many memorable trips and cruises. Amongst other destinations, the couple travelled to Hawaii, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, as well as, islands of the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Marny, Paul, Kris, and Scott spent many years enjoying spring vacations with family and friends in Myrtle Beach and Florida, and the four often shared laughs recalling an unforgettable, fun-filled summer trip to California. Many more special times were shared on the family boat, "Seas the Day," and years of entertaining dinners were had at Raindancer Restaurant. The two considered golfing, spending time with friends, and visits to and from their family to be some of their favorite activities.

Paul will forever remember Marny as the smart, determined, fun-loving, honest, and very social love of his life. Paul learned early on in the relationship to avoid arguing with his wife, for as he would often joke, "Marny may not always be right, but she is never in doubt." Whether engaging in conversation at a social gathering, or golfing with friends, Marny made a point of getting to know people. She cared about what was going on in their lives; she enjoyed sharing in their joyful moments, and she prayed for them when she knew they could use support beyond a caring word. Marny's passion for life and compassion for others made a lasting impression on all who knew her. Marny was a treasure to Paul. He loved her as much as any man could love a woman, and he always will.

Scott will never forget feeling his mother's presence in everything he did. From the very worst, to the very best, Mom was always there. What Scott understandably mistook as nagging in his younger years, he later came to understand was simply his mother's way of guiding him. As many children do, Scott sought his mother's approval throughout his life, which is why their mother/son dance at Scott and Amanda's wedding, last summer, was the most poignant moment in their relationship. At the end of the song, Marny held Scott's face with both of her hands and looked at him with more love and pride than ever before; the kind of pride a man can search for his whole life. While Marny felt that witnessing her son's marriage was an honor, in and of itself, more importantly, Scott appreciated that his mother was able to see that her ever-present guidance had led him to become the man she always knew he would be, and for that he is eternally grateful.

Marny and Kris's relationship was very much the quintessential mother/daughter relationship. There were arguments and apologies, misunderstandings and explanations, airings of grievances and consideration, and overstepping and forgiveness; and through it all, there was unconditional love. Their relationship evolved immeasurably over the years. That's not to say that everyone played nice all of the time, because they are each nothing if not honest and forthcoming, but the conscious effort to share more purposeful and meaningful times led to understanding, acceptance and appreciation, for which both were very grateful, and with which they established a loving friendship. To signify how happy she was to be able to call her daughter her best friend, Marny one day coined the phrase, "I love my 'fraughter;'" a term of endearment that Kris is honored to have had bestowed upon her and will forever cherish.

At times, Marny was a bit unconventional, and we loved her for it. There was the surprise baby shower she threw for Kris while having convinced Kris that everyone forgot to put one together, the ice cream birthday cake for Scott that she insisted would survive a car trip to Massachusetts in August, the "birthdays" that were celebrated at the restaurants with the best complimentary chocolate cake, the Julia Child accent put on by a woman who prepared two meals a year, the Black Friday afternoon shopping that better fit her schedule, the late arrivals that she figured were offset by being the last to leave, the infamous one-handed cartwheel with which at least one injury was incurred, but for which the bragging rights seemingly justified the risk, and the fact that Evan loved introducing her to his friends, because "you never knew what to expect." Oh, and there's one more. It seems Marny thought she was doing us a favor by providing us with a couple of examples of obituaries that she felt would be good inspiration. While they are good ones, we weren't quite prepared to have expectations to meet, thus the reason it has taken a month for this to make it to publication.

Marny was always up for a good get-together, and in keeping with wishes she had expressed over the years, we would like to invite family and friends to gather in celebration of her life, rather than to mourn her passing.

The family will be hosting an open house at Paul and Marny's home in Florida, on Saturday, November 12, from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm. We welcome you to come by and visit.

A memorial service will be held at The First Congregational Church in Gloversville on a summer date to be determined. Additional information will be provided once plans are finalized.

This past March, Marny began receiving at-home Hospice care from Tidewell Hospice of Port Charlotte, Florida. She had long appreciated the Hospice concept, and she was a generous supporter of their efforts. If you would like to make a contribution to a Hospice provider of your choice, in Marny's memory, we know that she would be more than honored.

As Marny's family, we are blessed to have known, loved, and been loved in return, by a wife, mother, and grandmother with whom we shared so many memorable moments that we will forever feel her presence. For all that she was, and all that she will always be, we are thankful.