LeBuis, Marlene A.

Marlene A. LeBuis Boomhower

Birth

Marlene A. LeBuis was born June 24, 1939 in Albany to the late Leo and Doris Filkins LeBuis. Her brothers and sisters were:

• Robert LeBuis and his wife, Roberta;
• Donald LeBuis and his wife, Donna;
• Charis Cummings and her husband, Dennis;
• Dennis LeBuis and his wife, Debbie.
• Janice Bassler (1936 - April 10, 2008) married Pete Bassler
• Diane Chamberlain married Merritt Chamberlain.

Occupation

Marlene was an active member of the Westerlo Reformed Church, serving as Sunday school teacher and elder; and church pianist and organist for over 45 years. While raising her children, she worked as a beautician and piano teacher in her home. She also was employed as an account clerk at Owens Corning for many years. A typical busy farmer's wife, she also managed her husband's trucking business, while being very involved with her children's and grandchildren's sports and activities.

Marriage & Children

Marlene LeBuis married in 1958, Dennis Boomhower, the son of Edward and Helen Boomhower. Their children were:

• Bonnie Ross and her husband, Dave
• Judy Tambasco and her husband, Donnie
• Mark Boomhower and his friend, Julie
• Diane Carl and her husband, Bob

Death

Marlene Boomhower died on Friday, March 23, 2012, with her family by her side. She was 72.

Obituary

Obituaries Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, March 29, 2012

Marlene A. Boomhower

WESTERLO — Marlene A. Boomhower, a mother, grandmother, quilter, teacher, and piano player, is remembered for having a heart that was as welcoming as her home.

She died on Friday, March 23, 2012, with her family by her side. She was 72.

“She loved everybody, and everybody knew it,” said her daughter, Bonnie Ross. “She had a special gift for making everyone feel welcome, and a part of the family. The coffee pot was always on, and lots of people sat around that kitchen table talking, and laughing, and sharing stories.”

Mrs. Boomhower’s son-in-law, Dave Ross, said, “She knew how to practice hospitality…She was a big-hearted woman, with room for all.”

She was born in Albany to the late Leo and Doris Filkins LeBuis.

Frederick “Pete” Bassler, who was married to Mrs. Boomhower’s sister, Janice, before she died in 2008, remembers Mrs. Boomhower as “a great and talented woman,” who was “just interested in people.”

“It’s sad to lose someone like that,” Mr. Bassler said. “They lived on a farm in Westerlo, and the farm was always a busy household, a place where you were welcome. It was just a pleasant place to go, and lots of people congregated there. I was at the viewing Monday night, and there were probably 400 people there, which was a testament to the kind of lady she was, and how well liked she was.”

Marlene was an active member of the Westerlo Reformed Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and elder, church pianist, and organist for over 45 years.

While raising her children, she worked as a beautician and piano teacher at home. She was also employed as an account clerk at Owens Corning for many years.

A busy farmer’s wife, Mrs. Boomhower also managed her husband’s trucking business, while being very involved with her children’s and grandchildren’s sports and activities.

“She was always there, rain, shine, or snow,” said her daughter, Diane Carl. “She always cheered them on.”

Mrs. Boomhower volunteered for 14 years at the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District’s 1,000 Book Club reading program.

“She and Roz Moser often talked longer than they worked, but they always joked around that it was OK, because they never got a raise in pay,” said Mrs. Boomhower’s daughter and BKW teacher, Judy Tambasco.

An avid quilter, Mrs. Boomhower kept a journal related to her work.

“She has pictures in there,” said her daughter, Mrs. Ross, “and she described who they were for, and when she made it, or what the occasion might have been, or some anecdotal story that went along with it. So, for every picture, she’s written a little blurb.”

An excerpt from her journal reads, “I started serious quilting when I was 50 years old. I had always thought, ‘Someday, I would like to make a quilt.’ And that year, I made up my mind that, unless I started, that ‘someday’ may never come.”

Thus, a quilting tradition was born, and each quilt had a name.

Mrs. Boomhower is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Dennis Boomhower, and her children: Bonnie Ross and her husband, Dave; Judy Tambasco and her husband, Donnie; Mark Boomhower and his friend, Julie; and Diane Carl and her husband, Bob.

Also surviving are her cherished grandchildren: Heath Boomhower; Jacob Tambasco; Daniel and Heather Carl; and Joey and Ian Ross.

She is also survived by her aunt, Margaret Filkins; her siblings: Robert LeBuis and his wife, Roberta; Donald LeBuis and his wife, Donna; Charis Cummings and her husband, Dennis; and Dennis LeBuis and his wife, Debbie.

Surviving, too, are her brothers-in-law: Pete Bassler and Merritt Chamberlain; and many nieces and nephews.

Her sisters, Janice Bassler and Diane Chamberlain, died before her, as did her parents-in-law, Edward and Helen Boomhower.

Friends called on Monday, March 26, at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home in Greenville. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, March 27, at the Westerlo Reformed Church, followed by burial in the Westerlo Central Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Westerlo Reformed Church, Post Office Box 70, Westerlo, NY 12193.

Condolences may be left online at ajcunninghamfh.com.

Altamont Enterprise - 2012

Funeral information
Home: Westerlo, NY Place of Birth: Albany, NY
Date of Death: March 23, 2012 Birthdate: June 24, 1939
Age: 72
Funeral Service: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 11:00 AM Westerlo Reformed Church, Westerlo, NY
Visitation: Monday, March 26, 2012 4 to 8 PM at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Homes,Inc., Greenville, NY
Interment: Westerlo Central Cemetery, Westerlo, NY
Biography

WESTERLO - Marlene A. Boomhower, 72, passed away on Friday evening, March 23, 2012 with her family by her side. Born in Albany, she was daughter of the late Leo and Doris Filkins LeBuis. Marlene was an active member of the Westerlo Reformed Church, serving as Sunday school teacher and elder; and church pianist and organist for over 45 years. While raising her children, she worked as a beautician and piano teacher in her home. She also was employed as an account clerk at Owens Corning for many years. A typical busy farmer's wife, she also managed her husband's trucking business, while being very involved with her children's and grandchildren's sports and activities. Marlene loved volunteering for 14 years at Berne-Knox-Westerlo School in the 1000 Book Club reading program. An avid quilter, an excerpt from her quilt journal reads, "I started serious quilting when I was 50 years old. I had always thought, 'Someday I would like to make a quilt.' And that year, I made up my mind that unless I started, that 'someday' may never come." Since then she has made many quilts for family and friends.

Marlene was the loving wife of 54 years of Dennis Boomhower, and the devoted mother of Bonnie and Dave Ross, Judy and Donnie Tambasco, Mark Boomhower and friend Julie, Diane and Bob Carl. She cherished her grandchildren, Heath Boomhower, Jacob Tambasco, Daniel and Heather Carl, Joey and Ian Ross. She is also survived by her aunt, Margaret Filkins; her siblings, Robert and Roberta LeBuis, Donald and Donna LeBuis, Charis and Dennis Cummings, Dennis and Debbie LeBuis; her brothers-in-law, Pete Bassler and Merritt Chamberlain; many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Marlene was predeceased by her sisters, Janice Bassler and Diane Chamberlain; parents-in-law, Edward and Helen Boomhower.

Calling hours will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 SR 81, Greenville. The funeral will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Westerlo Reformed Church, followed by burial in the Westerlo Central Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Westerlo Reformed Church, P. O. Box 70, Westerlo, NY 12193. Light a candle at ajcunninghamfh.com.

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