Marie E. Dehaven

Marie E. (Arona) DeHaven passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 29, 2009, surrounded by her loving family at her residence in Gulph Mills, PA. She was a life long resident of Bridgeport, PA and Upper Merion Twp. She was 80. Marie was a graduate of the former Bridgeport High School, where she was valedictorian of the class of 1947. She then received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from what was then called West Chester State Teacher's College. She began her teaching career at Burnside Elementary School in W. Norriton and then taught in Upper Merion at Gulph Rd. and Candlebrook Schools for 31 years until her retirement in 1985. On occasions, she would meet former students that she had taught who had become successful doctors, lawyers and judges and they would tell her they never forgot her inspiration. Marie was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bridgeport, PA. Marie loved going to the casinos but her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren.Born in Norristown, PA on November 24, 1929, she was a daughter of the late Vincenzo J. and Mary T. (Santoro) Arona. Surviving are her loving family including her husband of 57 years, Carl S. DeHaven; two daughters, Kim E. Denning and her husband, Wade of Tucson, AZ and Carla S. Pecharo and her fiancée Thomas Kerick, Jr. of King of Prussia, PA; a step-daughter, Deborah L. Reeves of Deland, FL; three grandchildren, Peter J. Merlino and Dana M. and Nicholas M. Pecharo; and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Rose M. Pelusi and her husband, Ralph and Ann M. Torrisi and her husband, Mauro, and a son-in-law, Michael F. Pecharo. Relatives & friends are invited to her Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 502 Ford St., Bridgeport, PA 19405 on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 10:30am. Friends may call Saturday morning from 9 to 10:20am, at the church. Interment in Gulph Christian Cemetery, Gulph Mills, PA.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marie's memory to Montgomery Home Care and Hospice, 25 W. Fornance St., Norristown, PA 19401.Arrangements are by The Bacchi-Courtney Funeral Home & Crematory, Ltd., Bridgeport, PA. www.bacchicourtney.com