Marjorie "Marjie" Landale

Marjorie “Marjie” Landale, beloved sister, friend, and community anchor, died of natural causes this spring in her Pittsburgh home at the age of 63. 

Born September 15, 1961, in Meredith, New Hampshire, Marjie was the eighth of ten children of Suzanne (Chevalier) and Thomas Landale. She grew up in a small town outside of London for her first six years, then in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. There, in a lively household of ten siblings, she experienced a “tribal” childhood filled with ritual and play—marathon card games, round-robin ping-pong, and legendary Christmases complete with 13’ trees and sibling pyramids, with joyfully smiling, petite Marjie on top. 

Marjie carried forward that sense of joy, creativity, and connection throughout her life. She developed an early love of photography, often experimenting in her basement darkroom, and was known as the family’s most thoughtful gift-giver. Marjie became a vegetarian at a young age, once serving a delicious vegetarian lasagna on Thanksgiving to a table full of surprised family members. She studied English at Penn State, living with two of her brothers for a year, then moved to Pittsburgh, where she worked at Graffiti nightclub and later became a longtime waitress, bartender, and manager in Regent Square. 

At Regent Square Tavern, Marjie made a huge difference as a waitress. In 1999, The Wall Street Journal profiled her in a front-page story, “Waitress Makes the Difference in Bringing Deaf to Pittsburgh Bar,” telling the story of how Marjie quietly learned American Sign Language to welcome a deaf patron, who in turn invited others. Soon, the tavern became a beloved gathering place for both hearing and deaf customers. 

In 2004, Marjie purchased the Regent Square Tavern and remodeled it into “The Map Room.” She did much of the painting and tile-work herself. She decorated it with antique maps inherited from her father. Warm, welcoming, and quick to learn regulars’ favorite drinks, Marjie cultivated a community “where everyone knows your name.” When indoor smoking was banned, she installed fold-down tables outside, so smokers could stay. Good food was served at The Map Room, drawing families. Her regulars found a safe harbor. Stories and laughter were shared, and in August, people watched on ESPN the Little League World Series – broadcast from Marjie’s hometown, Williamsport. 

Marjie’s life reflected her independence, her loyalty, and her gifts for both hospitality and connection. She lived just a block from The Map Room on a tree-lined street, where she enjoyed neighborhood block parties and long walks through Frick Park. 

Though later years brought significant challenges with mental and physical health, and increasing isolation, Marjie and her family remained connected with one another. Siblings visited to take Marjie out for dinner, to concerts, including The Rolling Stones. Marjie continued to send thoughtfully chosen and beautifully wrapped gifts, a lovely expression of her care. In her final years, she was still able to share at times her sparkling eyes, delighted smile, and whole-hearted laughter, especially with children. 

Marjie’s death is mourned by her siblings Ed, Carol, Nora, Louie, Jim, Kathy, and Stephen, as well as their spouses, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and Map Room patrons. She is predeceased by her parents, Suzanne and Thomas, and her brothers Ray and David. 

Marjie’s legacy lives on in the many lives she touched—through creativity, humor, and her gift for creating places of belonging. Her family invites all who knew her to honor her by practicing the values she embodied: open-hearted hospitality, hard work, love of family and friends, and joy in shared stories. 

Please join Marjie's family for a Celebration of Life at The Hemlock House (formerly The Map Room), 1126 S. Braddock Avenue, Swissvale PA 15218, on Saturday, September 6, at 12:00 noon. Please email stevelandale@gmail.com for information or to RSVP. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, www.wpsd.org.

Arrangements by Natural Funeral Company, 412.545.7500.