Marlene McGarvey

Marlene McGarvey possibly the only Acme cashier to be taken by limousine to her last day of work, died at home Friday, Sept. 14, with her loving children by her side. She was 78. Mrs. McGarvey retired from the Bryn Mawr Acme in May of 1997, after 46 years of working for the company. Her co-workers stunned her by paying for the limousine driver to pull up her rowhouse street on Central Avenue in Bryn Mawr the last day of her career. And so began 8 hours of speeches, gift-giving, and farewell cards, provided by employees and customers alike and culminating with a champagne toast by late afternoon. "My mom worked hard her whole life and was fiercely loyal to the people she cared for and loved," said Mindy McKinney, Mrs. McGarvey's first born child. "It all came back to her in spades, especially in the end. God was good to her in granting her a spiritual and peaceful parting. We are all so heart-broken. But she is in heaven with my dad now, so that also makes us very happy." Marlene (nee Hrankey) McGarvey, born in Norristown, Montgomery County, and a long time resident of Bryn Mawr, was the wife of the late Charles B. "Chas" McGarvey, mother of MindyMcKinney (Sean); Charles J. McGarvey (Laurie); Marlene Mercanti (Chris); grandmother of Caitlin, Megan, Christopher, Mary Kate, Isabel, Jack and Anthony Nicholas; sister of Connie Warr, Joan Detrick, and the late Sally Stauffer. Mrs. McGarvey was known for attracting the longest lines of customers at the Acme, where they waited to share a story or a laugh. "She's been very kind and generous all through the years," Joseph Ratigan, a retired Villanova University professor, was quoted as saying at her retirement. "I often had to wait in line for Marlene." The late F. Karl Schauffele of Wynewood said that he had never missed a Sunday morning trip to his favorite cashier for 21 years. "She brightens my week," Schauffele said at her retirement. Never reluctant to take pen to paper, Mrs. McGarvey embraced old school values and was equally vigilant in her defense of the company she loved and the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 1776. She was an active member of Our Mother of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church in Bryn Mawr, where she and her three children were married. She was most passionate in her commitment to family. Her children and grandchildren remember a protective, ever-present woman delivering trunks full of Christmas toys, treating them to Happy Meals, playing Disney movies, babysitting them for whole weekends, cooking Thanksgiving dinners for settings of 27 people, and cheering loudly at countless games and cheerleading matches. She drained her bank account on exquisite outfits for all. "She wore it on her sleeve," said grandson Christopher. "She wanted the best for the kids, the grandkids, and anybody who married into our family," said daughter Marlene. "She never had the best growing up, so it was very important to her to give the best. She was such a strong, giving woman - and my best friend. I don't know what I will do without her." Mrs. McGarvey's son Charles, Chief Fire Officer of Lower Merion Township, said his mother was also generous to those in need in the community. "My mom was the ambassador of Bryn Mawr, representing people of all walks of life," he said. "At one point, after she retired from the Acme, she provided personal care to the head of a leading Main Line family in his final years. If you didn't know my mom, you probably hadn't lived in Bryn Mawr for long." Family and friends may call 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 19, and 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Thursday, September 20 in the Funeral Home of John Stretch, 236 E. Eagle Rd, Havertown. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 20 in Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, 31 Pennswood Rd, Bryn Mawr. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Flowers are welcomed or in lieu of, donations in her memory may be made to Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, 31 Pennswood Rd, Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010. The Main Line Times featured Marlene in an article in their May 8, 1997 edition on page 3 Stretch Funeral Home 610-446-1075