Marcia Stone Paige

ITHACA - Marcia Stone Paige of Ithaca (formally, of Kingston), died on September 1, 2008 at Oak Hill Manor Nursing Home. Born on February 16, 1926 in Kingston to the late Dinah and Sam Stone, she is survived by her daughter Julie of Ithaca and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends. She was predeceased by her husband Milton Paige in 1978 and her brother Merrill Stone. Marcia graduated from Kingston High School in 1943, attended Penn State University, and graduated from the Ohio State School of Social Work. In her early professional years she was employed as a social worker for Ulster County and later was a business store owner until her retirement. The loves of her life were family especially her daughter Julie. She was most fond of her young cousins Michele Weiner of Kingston and Pamela Weiner Dyson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida who were like grandchildren to her. She had many close relationships with her first cousins on both her mother and father's side and spent much time during her childhood in Poughkeepsie with her Aunt Dora and Uncle Morris Epstein, and her first cousin Betty Effron Katzin. She had a special bond with her niece Roslyn Stone of Pound Ridge and her great niece and nephew Daniel and Jennifer Pollock, both of Pound Ridge. Marcia loved to tell stories from her past family stories and stories about the special connection of the families who lived on Hone Street a very closely knit neighborhood. Marcia also loved to read. Mysteries were her favorite as well as books on history and current events. She became known at the library as the "history and mystery lady". Marcia was committed to community service both in her religious community and the Kingston/Ulster Communities. She and her husband Milton were founders of the Ulster Academy and both served on the Board of Trustees. Marcia volunteered for Planned Parenthood and was very active as a lifetime member of Hadassah before she left Kingston. She was one of the founders of the gift-wrapping fundraiser for Hadassah Hospital during the holidays. After retirement, Marcia had two volunteer commitments that were very important to her. She served as an ombudsman for a nursing home through the Ulster County RSVP. The residents of the Moran Rest Home in Gardiner were very important to her as she advocated for their needs. She also thoroughly enjoyed her work as a volunteer for the Kingston Heritage Visitors Center where she was able to "come home again" to downtown Kingston and share stories of the Roundout from her childhood. Marcia left Kingston in 2002 to move to Ithaca to be closer to her daughter. Her happiest times in Ithaca were her years in Longview where she developed friendships similar to those she enjoyed in Kingston. She also developed special relationships with her daughter Julie's friends who became her close friends too. Marcia will be remembered at a service at Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Avenue, Kingston, on Thursday at 12 Noon. Julie will be sitting Shiva in the home of Julian and Maida Weiner of Kingston, Thursday night and at the home of Julie Paige in Ithaca on Saturday night where she will welcome friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospicare and Pallative Services, 172 East King Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. Funeral arrangements are being made through Herson Funeral Home.