Marcia B. Elsesser

Marcia passed away peacefully on August 26, 2023, at the age of 96, and is now in the presence of her Lord.  She was the eldest daughter of Harold and Mary Boyd, born on June 28, 1927, in Orange City, New Jersey.  She was married to Norman Elsesser on December 19, 1947.  They were married almost 61 years, when her husband passed away in 2008.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Paton (late Bill) of Florida; a son, Mark (Ginny) of Brooklyn, Ohio; daughters, Nora Elsesser (Don Brent) of Homosassa, Florida, and Mary Mehelich of Cumming, Georgia; grandchildren, Matthew Elsesser (Katie), Margaret Fanning (late Kirk), Elizabeth Zimmer (Kyle), Chad Wolfe (Ashley), and Sara Reese (Tom); and great-grandchildren, Jaden (Tristen), Tyler, Davin, and Spencer Fanning, Caleb, Cassidy, Seth, and Joshua Elsesser, Trevor and KJ Zimmer, Delilah and Nash Wolfe, and Adeline and Calvin Reese; many nieces and nephews, including Kay Waldon, a dear caregiver.

Her father’s occupation as a geologist had her family moving from New Jersey to New York to California, and finally when Marcia was in high school to East Lansing, Michigan.  Marcia attended the University of Michigan, but finished her Bachelor of Science degree at Michigan State University, with a minor in Home Economics and Textiles & Clothing.  Upon marriage Marcia and Norman first moved to East Lansing, and then to Lansing.  She was the ‘neighborhood’ mother while her children were growing up, along with being a Cub Scout and Brownie leader.  She had a love for the Arts that she shared with her three children.  Later returning to MSU to obtain her ‘teacher certificate,’ Marcia taught elementary school for over 20 years at Grand River Elementary School. Upon retirement she tutored students at Bingham Elementary and volunteered in the Children’s Closet of Pilgrim Congregational Church of Christ, where she kept the records, and obtained the funding of grants. She and Norman delivered meals to shut-ins with Meals on Wheels for many years.  Marcia also volunteered at the gift shop in Sparrow Hospital. She enjoyed doing watercolor paintings and needlepoint pictures.  She created Christmas ornaments for her grandchildren, while visiting with her mother during summers in Florida. One Christmas she even decorated sweatshirts with paint designs for all her children and grandchildren, although one of her grandsons was not so sure about wearing her creation!  Marcia’s positive outlook and grateful spirit, even as her body aged, blessed so many. Her graciousness and kindness were felt by all who knew and loved her.  Truly, she will be missed.

A memorial service will be held at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 125 S. Pennsylvania, Lansing, Michigan 48912, at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 2, 2023, with Pastor Peter Robinson officiating.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.  Private interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery in Lansing.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Marcia B. Elsesser, may be made to Pilgrim Congregational Church or the charity of choice. Online condolences may be left for her family at www.EstesLeadley.com.