Marcena M Greene

Marcena Greene, 89, passed away on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at her home in Boise.

A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Parish, 811 S. Latah St., at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.  A celebration of Marcena’s life will be held in Gladwin, Michigan on Saturday, July 23, 2016. Contact Linda or Richard for details.  

Marcena was the older sister to Audrey and grew up in a small close knit family.  She developed a lifelong friendship with her sister along with cousins Ruth, Grace, and Donna. She graduated from Arthur Hill High School in 1944 and married Robert Greene on October 19, 1946. Marcena was a full time homemaker in Battle Creek, Michigan to their two children, Linda and Michael, until 1977 when life changes led her to seek new opportunities. While visiting her sister in Simi Valley, California she took a variety of classes at Moorpark Community College that enabled her to gain self-assurance and explore career options. On her return to Battle Creek, she earned her CNA certification from Kellogg Community College and worked at the Spring Hill Manor Nursing Home. Moving to Bad Axe, Michigan, she worked briefly at a bank, and then through her work at the Sheltered Workshop, found her calling in adult foster care where for ten years, the job at Birchview Ranch in Pigeon, Michigan was a labor of love.  Despite being retired, when she relocated to Kalamazoo her love of children led “Gramma Greene” to a nanny job for three neighborhood families. A subsequent move to Port Austin, Michigan found her volunteering at North Huron Elementary and participating with the Port Austin Community Players. Her network of friends continued to expand as she headed west once again, this time to Kingman, Arizona where for the next 10 years, she lived with Audrey and enjoyed Red Hat activities with the Radiant Rouge Renegades.  In 2013, she and Audrey moved to Boise, Idaho where she was only a mile from a granddaughter and her family.

Marcena adored her five grandchildren, family gatherings, playing cards, and everything associated with water. She loved swimming and never turned down a boat ride. Knitting and crocheting were favorite hobbies and her famous slippers and dish towels were given freely with a loving heart to friends and family. She could pack in a flash and especially loved her travels to Europe, The Holy Lands, Hawaii and Ireland, she was always ready to hit the road. Whether it was moving or traveling she made lifelong friends at every stop.  Her last big adventure was a family trip in 2015 to Costa Rica where she enjoyed a thirteen station zipline.

Marcena met life’s challenges with an amazing resilience and was always willing to lend a hand when needed. She lived her life in a way that made her an inspiration to many. She taught us what having faith looked like, how to enjoy the smallest moments, and the importance of a positive attitude. In 2011, the tragic deaths of her son, Michael and his wife Terri broke her heart but not her spirit. The sudden onset of congestive heart failure in 2015, allowed her to show us how to endure a life changing illness without complaint and reminded us to find joy in each day. Handwritten lists of every family member along with countless friends were found tucked in well-worn prayers books never far from her reach. All were graced with unwavering daily prayer.
Marcena was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Michael Greene and his wife Terri. She is survived by her sister, Audrey Ryman; daughter, Linda Fawcett (Richard) of Gladwin, MI; grandchildren Cherie Lynn (Michael) Kiplinger of Charlotte, MI; Aimee (Jay) Rioux of Macomb, MI; Sean (Phyllis) Greene of Las Vegas, NV; Alison (Daniel) Gray of Richmond, MI; and Nora (David) Hall of Boise, ID; great grandchildren Michael Kiplinger, Kyle (Stephanie) Kiplinger, Declan Greene, Madison and Gannon Rioux, Carson and Lauren Gray, Greta, Lyla, and Julian Hall; great-great grandchildren Hayden and Jaxson Kiplinger; brother-in-law James Lewis, and twenty-two nieces and nephews from the Black, Greene, and Lewis families.

We miss our gentle and loving GG, especially the sweet smile that always brought a sparkle to her eyes. We are forever grateful for the personal support and loving care that was given by Legacy Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you do an act of kindness in memory of Marcena or consider a donation to Legacy Hospice of Boise, ID or a hospice of your choice.