Marlene Joyce Mccarthy

Marlene Joyce McCarthy, age 83, of Maumee, died peacefully in the company of her family at St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee on Saturday, February 4. Marlene Joyce Shartle was born in Altoona, Pa., on February 12, 1933. She was the youngest of three children born to Anna Laura Lorraine Allen, of Clearfield, Pa., and Robert A. Shartle, of Altoona. Her mother died of tuberculosis when Marlene was 9 years old. Her beloved Uncle John and Aunt Marie Boylan took Marlene into their home as she entered high school, and she thrived in her studies at Altoona Catholic High School as a result of the love and stability they provided. Marlene had a beautiful singing voice and found joy while participating in theater, often performing in lead roles for her high school plays. Upon graduation in 1951, Marlene began working as an administrative assistant for the district attorney’s office in Altoona. After two years in that role, she moved to Washington, D.C., and took a job with the U.S. War Claims Commission, where she transcribed testimony from liberated American World War II prisoners of war as part of the adjudication process used to determine their compensation benefits. Two years later, Marlene obtained a high-clearance secretarial position at the U.S. Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Shortly thereafter, fate intervened and Marlene met her future husband, Dennis J. McCarthy, who was serving stateside in the U.S. Air Force following a tour of duty in Korea, where he served in the K-9 division of the Air Police. Dennis and Marlene married two years later in Altoona, before moving to Dennis’ hometown of Detroit to raise a family. In Detroit and its suburbs, Marlene and Dennis raised five children: Mike, Patty, Lori, John and Dennis (Boo). After a 16-year career at the Detroit Free Press, Dennis became part owner of a printing facility in New Boston, Mich. For 13 years, the company composed and printed weekly and monthly newspapers from various communities throughout Michigan. As their children got older, Marlene and Dennis decided they wanted to work together in the community newspaper business. Always the adventurer, Marlene took a drive one day to the Toledo area and discovered the historic and charming town of Maumee, Ohio. It was there that Dennis and Marlene decided to purchase a house and venture into business. After a few months of planning, the couple launched a monthly newspaper with the assistance of their two oldest sons, Mike and John. The newspaper was founded on March 17, 1980, and was named The Community Mirror, a tribute to the daily Altoona Mirror in Marlene’s hometown of Altoona. The paper debuted as a monthly, and two years later expanded into a popular bi-monthly publication. In early 1989, Dennis became ill with pancreatic cancer and he died after a six-month illness at the age of 56. Marlene left the newspaper business a few years later, and took up brief residence in Pennsylvania and Michigan, before eventually returning to her adopted hometown of Maumee, where she has resided for the past 13 years. Marlene enjoyed music, reading, travel, movies, baseball and spending time with her five children and their spouses. She was known for her kind-hearted and friendly demeanor, quick wit and sharp sense of humor. She was an entertaining storyteller and a gifted feature writer. Marlene adored her eight grandchildren, all of whom came to know and love her simply as “Molly Mom.” The self-coined moniker was a perfect example of Marlene’s fun and young-at-heart approach to life. In business, Marlene served as publisher of The Mirror from 1980-91. She briefly owned Koral Hamburg, a popular Maumee restaurant, in 1981-82. In 1985, she founded The Senior Partner, working closely with her youngest son, Dennis. The governor of Ohio presented her with a “Woman of the Year” award to honor her work with that publication. The Mirror, which she co-founded, will soon be celebrating its 37th anniversary, a lasting testimony of her gift to the Maumee community. Marlene was a member of the Maumee Uptown Business Association and the Maumee Chamber of Commerce. She and Dennis were members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maumee and two of their children graduated from Maumee High School. Marlene is survived by her five children: Mike (Carol Evans) McCarthy, Patricia (Mark) Gray, Lorraine (Robert) Sadowski, John (Jean McDevitt) McCarthy, and Dennis (Maria Phillips) McCarthy. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren: Denny McCarthy, Bridgette McCarthy, Johnny McCarthy, Michael McCarthy, Joe McCarthy, Mary McCarthy, Jack McCarthy and Patrick McCarthy. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dennis; her sister, Constance (Bernie) Herbert; brother, William Shartle; and half-brother, Clare Eugene Turner. Visitation will take place from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10, 2017 at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home at 501 Conant St. in Maumee. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Prayers will begin in the funeral home on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 10:00 AM followed by the Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 104 W. Broadway St. in Maumee. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Maumee. The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to The Salvation Army.