Amherst, Marlene Rose Christiansen, 81, of Amherst, MA died unexpectedly September 6,

2015 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.  Marlene was born in Irvington, NJ on

November 24, 1933 to Madelyn and Joseph Cymanski.  Married to the late Richard

C. Christiansen.  Marlene is survived by her five children:  Madelyn

Christiansen (Steven Bradley) of Pelham, MA; Maryanne Christiansen of Marlton,

NJ; Paul Christiansen of Amherst, MA; Peggy Garber (Michael) of Holmdel, NJ and

Dianne Malabanan (Alan) of Brookline, MA, and her cherished grandchildren, Kyle

Garber, Allyson Bradley, Ryan Garber, Shannon Bradley, Jacklyn Bradley, Alexa

Christiansen and Christian Malabanan.  She also leaves her sisters, Virginia

Falcone (Richard) Jackson, NJ and Doreen Machette, Toms River, NJ and her

brother, the late Joseph Cymanski, of Edison, NJ and their families. 

Marlene was a homemaker and a volunteer at several hospitals.  Once her children were

older, she went to work at Mass Mutual and later at JCPenney where she retired.

After retiring she enjoyed working at the Academy of Music.  She loved spending

her time with her family, hosting Christmas Eve, going to the beach, and

vacationing in Maine with her friends.  One of her hobbies was making creative

cakes for all her grandchildren’s birthdays.  She was a gentle, caring,

wonderful mother, adored grandmother and friend.  She will be greatly missed. 

There will be a private committal service at Bourne National Cemetery.  If

you would like to make a donation in memory of Marlene, Susan G. Komen Breast

Cancer Foundation, Inc. (1-877-465-6636) was close to her heart.