Marcella Groce

Marcella Brown Groce born on April 17, 1931 in Philadelphia, PA peacefully left our presence on February 2, 2021 having lived in the Boston area since 2016, most recently residing at The Linden in Dedham Massachusetts lovingly attended to by her daughter Karen Groce-Horan. Marcella was a career educator and taught hundreds of first graders in Binghamton NY public school system where she taught at Christopher Columbus and Theodore Roosevelt Elementary Schools.  She received her undergraduate degree from Temple University in Philadelphia and attended Marywood College in Scranton PA before completing her Master’s degree from the State University of NY College at Cortland. She was an active and loving member of the Apalachin Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and was chapter President 1995 – 1997.

Upon her retirement from classroom teaching in 1996, Marcella became an undergraduate student- teacher supervisor at State University of NY Oneonta.  In her spare time throughout her life, she committed countless volunteer hours using her time and talents with many organizations including the Roberson Museum, Christ Church Episcopal Binghamton, United Black Episcopalians, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, and the Broome County Urban League to name the most prominent. Remembrances of Marcella have noted her magnetic personality, memorable smile and laugh, and a loving kindness especially given to any children lucky enough to be in her presence. Her devotion to education was evident and inspired everyone who knew her. 

Among her many interests and passions were gardening, piano playing, teaching Sunday school, knitting, and she was an avid journal writer and once wrote a children’s book in hopes of having it published. Marcella always loved traveling and spent summers with her young family camping all over the northeastern states, and in later years traveled the world to Barbados, Israel, Egypt, and Alaska.

Marcella is predeceased by her loving parents William and Ruby Brown, and Aunt Marie Cannon. She is survived by her sister Barbara Brown, her son Eric Groce, wife Linda Heck-Groce, and children Adonea, Eric Jr. (wife Beth Groce), Neiman and Christopher Heck, daughter Cheryl Groce-Wright, husband Richard Wright, children Nigel and Carson, and daughter Karen Groce-Horan, children Mariah (husband Greg Terrono) and Lydia, and great grandchildren DeAndre, Nelson, Carter, Maya, and Brooklyn. There are also Canadian relatives that have important ties to Marcella’s family of origin from Barbados. Family did indeed mean everything to Marcella.

In sustaining Marcella’s commitment to education and service, and in lieu of flowers, her family suggests contributions in her honor could be generously offered to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley at       https://unitedwayconnect.org/comm/SinglePageRegPledge.jsp?EnvelopeKeyHex=2A633B6C385A383E53667E3E&SA=14771729 

and/or Apalachin Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, http://apalachinalumnae.com/about-delta-sigma-theta/contact/

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