South Hadley, Mass. – Marjorie P. Vanderminden, 75, of 20 Bayon Drive, #117, died Thursday (November 6, 2008) at her home from complications related to pulmonary fibrosis. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Born July 23, 1933 in Granville, NY she was the daughter of Katherine (Tanner) Potter and Charles W. Potter. She attended Milne High School in Albany, graduating in 1950. She went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude from St. Lawrence University in June 1954. Marjorie married her childhood sweetheart, Alan E. Vanderminden of Granville, NY on August 16, 1952.
Marjorie and Alan returned to Granville in 1955 where they remained until 1999, raising their four children and divided their time between Granville and Lake St. Catherine, VT.
During the early years of her marriage she was active in Granville Methodist Church, the Pember Library, The Emma Laing Stevens Hospital Auxiliary and The Granville Rotary Club. She and her husband hosted four Rotary Exchange students for a total of 21 months, and she remained in contact with Marcello Bossi of Argentina until her passing.
Marjorie was a journalist, and spent more than 12 years as a regional correspondent for The Post Star and for The Granville Sentinel. In 1979, she became a licensed Insurance Agent for the Alan E. Vanderminden Insurance Agency.
Marjorie leaves a long legacy of community service and civic duty. She was a past president and member of Home Culture Club, a offshoot of the Chautauqua Movement for more than 47 years, charter member and past president of the Granville Lioness’ Club, charter president of the Friends of Pember Library, charter member of the Friends of Pember Museum of Natural History, past president of Granville Central School PTA, election inspector for Granville District 1 for 25 years, past president of the Washington County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, member of the state Regents‘ Capital District Task Force for Education of the Handicapped, Honorary Life Member of the New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers, past member of the Granville Heritage Society and member of the Lake St. Catherine Association.
Marjorie was an avid reader and shared her love of books through her volunteer work as chairman of the Book Committee for the Pember Library. For many years she was responsible for selecting, ordering, receiving and processing books purchased by the Friends for the Children’s Reading Room in Granville.
Marjorie received many awards for her contributions. In 1980, she was nominated the Sentinel’s "Woman of the Year", a tribute in part to her efforts as general chairman of the Granville Bicentennial Celebration held August 1980. She also worked on the design and creation of several quilt squares for Granville Bicentennial Quilt. She received the President Award from the Granville Area Lioness Club 1981-1982 in recognition of Outstanding Service, and the Granville Area Lioness Club Secretary Award 1983-1984.
She was predeceased by her husband, Alan Vanderminden, and her parents, Charles W. and Katherine T. Potter.
She is survived by her four children, Julia H. Durchanek and her husband, Richard, and their sons, Amadeus, Antonin and Alexis of Holyoke, Mass.; Katherine V. Marshall and her husband, Jody M. and their son Brody M. and their daughters, Lily A. and Eleanor K. of Gardner, Kansas; her sons, Peter A. Vanderminden and his wife, Lisa C., and their son Dain M. of Ridgefield. CT and daughter, Amelia D., of Washington, DC; and James W. Vanderminden of Granville, NY. She is also survived by her niece, Christine W. Reilly and her nephews, John R. Winn; Robert M. Winn, David A. Winn and Stephen C. Winn; and her cousins, Charles Cadwallader, Henry J.W. Vanderminden III, Robert D. Vanderminden and Donna Baker and their families.
Calling hours were held Saturday, November 8, at Ryder Funeral Home in South Hadley, Mass.
Friends may call between 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday at Robert M. King Funeral Home in Granville. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Meredith Vanderminden at 8:30 a.m. at the Granville Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Mettowee Valley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations be made to The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or the Pember Library, 33 W. Main Street, Granville, NY 12832.