Marjorie Lord Westphal

Marjorie Lord Westphal of Erie, PA, Cleveland, OH, and Scottsdale, AZ died peacefully in her sleep after a battle with bladder cancer on August 28, 2024. A retired attorney, patron of the arts, wife, mother and grandmother, she delighted in life and shared it with her beloved husband of 53 years, Lester Westphal.

Jorie, as she was known to all her loved her, was born in Erie, PA on July 24,1940 to Thomas Lord and Dorothy Hofft Lord. She was a smart and adventurous child, riding horses, reading books and standing up for her younger Brother, Skip Lord. After high school at Emma Willard School in Troy, NY, Jorie attended Brown and Gannon Universities. She later received her law degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. Her passion for music and the arts led her to be an active patron and board member of Erie's Philharmonic, Arts Council, and Playhouse. It was at the Erie Playhouse where she met the love of her life, Lester Westphal, who was the Technical Director of the Theatre. Prior to this she had been married to and had three children with David Zurn.



Like many women of her era, Jorie's law career was hampered by the entrenched sexism of the day, but she persevered, and practiced estate and tax law into the late 1980s. Jorie served on the board of directors at Emma Willard School and was active in alumni associations at Brown and Case Western. In the early 90s, she and Lester moved to Carefree, Arizona, drawn by the spectacular landscape. In Carefree, Jorie used her skills to help grow the Arizona MusicFest for many years. Jorie greatly enjoyed travel and journeyed with Lester to Great Britain, China, Russian, Czechoslovakia, Nepal and Tibet. She welcomed seven grandchildren who brought hours of wonder to her life.

A memorial service will be held in Carefree, Arizona on Saturday October 12 at 2pm at Christ Anglican Church, 35500 North Cave Creek Road, Carefree, Arizona, 85331. The service will be available via Zoom livestream for those who cannot join us in person. Her ashes will be interred at a later date near her Lord family in the Erie, PA Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Jorie's name to Fresh Start Women's Foundation: https://freshstartwomen.org/

Jorie brought joy and support to many friends and family during her 84 years. She will be missed, remembered and survived by:

Her husband, Lester Westphal;

Her brother, Skip and The Lord Family: Skip, Linda, Michael, Gayle, Tommy;

Her daughter, Rena and The Fulweiler Family: Rena, Spencer, Emma, Jordan, Lyra;

Her daughter, Amelie and The Zurn-Galinsky Family: Amelie, Licia, Tamara, Jessica, Tova, Milo, Zora, Rakai, Kailejae

Her son Christopher and The Saunders-Zurn-Anderson Family: Christopher, Katherine, Finn, Kayja, Rowan, Zane;

Her Co-Parents: David and Barbara Zurn

Her Nephew/Nieces: Stephen Kotsinas; Lee, Patricia, Christy, Sheryl, Michael Westphal; Sara, Hope, Scott Mead; Karen, Heidi, Pete, Doug Zurn.

Her God-Daughter, Kristan Schiller;

Her Sister-in-Laws, Kay Westphal and Susan Hays .

She was beloved and supported by Denise and Norman Stalsberg; a host of caring medical providers; and the staff of VI at Greyhawk.