Marlene L. Metcalfe

Marlene L. Metcalfe, 86, of New Market, MD, passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family on October 15, 2023, at Kline Hospice House after a short illness. 

Born on October 17, 1936, in Gays Mills, WI, Marlene was the daughter of Velma (Moore) and Elgie Proudfoot who preceded her in death along with first husband Vincent Trost and second husband Frederick Metcalfe. 

She is survived by her brother, Bill Malloy, of Winter Garden, FL, daughter Ellen (Mike) Didion of Millsboro, DE, son V. Joseph (Mary) Trost, of Baden, PA, and daughter Sue (Eddie) Johnson, of Jefferson, MD.  

Marlene is also survived by grandchildren David Didion, Daniel Didion and partner Marley Pegler, Olivia (Jordan) Kirschenbaum and their new baby Ruby Mae, Sarah Didion, Vince Trost, Tori Trost, Mikayla Trost, Matt Johnson, and will be remembered fondly by son-in-law Eddie’s children Lauren (Pat) King, Ashley (Dan) Mason, Steven (Brittany) Johnson and all of their children. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Laura Trost, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close family friend, Tom Mills. 

Marlene spent her early years living in apple orchard country in rural Wisconsin.  She graduated from Gays Mills High School and attended the University of Wisconsin before the pursuing a glamourous career as a stewardess with American Airlines where she was based out of LaGuardia Airport in New York. When she married and started her family she had to resign from her job. She rejoined the workforce as her children Ellen, Joe, and Sue grew older where she enjoyed a career as an administrative assistant for large corporations in New Jersey including Westinghouse, Electrolux, Revlon, and Siemens. She earned her real estate license along the way and eventually attained appraiser qualifications. After moving to New Market, MD, in 2003 to be nearer to her daughters, she worked as an administrative assistant for the Montgomery County Teen Court and at Frederick Community College until her retirement.  Never one to sit idle, she pursued her A.A. degree from Frederick Community College and was proudly the oldest graduate of the class of 2010 at the age of 73. 

In her retirement, she remained fiercely independent up until three weeks before she passed. She enjoyed taking yoga and fitness classes, was active in the Mt. Airy Senior Center, and took special enjoyment in playing an active role in her local book club and as a member of the Cattail River Garden Club.  She loved helping organize trips to arboretums and formal gardens with her friends in the group whom she dearly enjoyed spending time with. She was a voracious reader who kept her local libraries busy. She enjoyed making her yard come to life with the variety of flowers and bushes she planted and tended to herself. 

Despite keeping busy with her activities, Marlene’s ultimate pride and passion was her family. She loved her children and grandchildren with all her heart and spent time with them whenever she could.  She attended their sports events and activities and delighted in cutting out newspaper and media clippings regarding them to send along to other family members. Family vacations at Bethany Beach were always a highlight of her year! 

Marlene’s family would like to extend special gratitude to the medical professionals at Frederick Health Hospital and Kline Hospice House for their exceptional care of Marlene with a special thank you to cardiologist Dr. Aimee Park. 

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Stauffer Funeral Home located at 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, Maryland, with family receiving friends from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm. 

Marlene loved flowers but she had a practical side, too. In lieu of flowers, she requested a donation to the charity of one’s choice be made in her memory. 

Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.