Marion M. Bruce

MARION ELIZABETH MATTHEWS BRUCE, the only child of Dorothy Helena Trusty and Bernard Gillis was born on November 5, 1929 in Baltimore, Maryland. On Thursday, September 2, 2010 following a long illness, she departed this life. Marion was educated in the Catholic School System. She attended St. Peter Claver’s Catholic School. Marion accepted Christ as her savior while a young child and served Him at numerous Catholic churches in Baltimore throughout her lifetime. She was currently a member at the New All Saints Catholic Church and still participated during her stay at the Future Care Nursing Home. Her health prevented her from active membership; however she continued her support. Marion worked at Creighton Sausage Company on Etting Street. After about fi ve years, Mr. Henry O. Parks asked her to work for his newly formed company, the Parks Sausage Company. She worked there as a meat stuffer for almost thirty years and retired because of illness. Marion was affectionately known as “Nana” by her family or “Mert” by her co-workers and friends. She was well known as a kind and generous woman and was quite supportive as the matriarch of her family. She was well-liked, loved, respected and adored by any and all with whom she made contact. With all that she endured, she never once complained or mistreated anyone. During her lifetime, Marion also became a seamstress and cosmetologist. She enjoyed buying clothes (especially shoes and glittery caps) and anything that related to fashion, cooking, entertaining and home decorating. She also loved traveling. One of her most memorable vacations was her cruise across seas on the Queen Elizabeth Two. She married her first husband, Walter Monroe Matthews in 1947. While working for Parks; she met her second husband, Charles T. Bruce in 1954. He became the love of her life. They married in October of 1965. She was quite the social butterfly when she participated with her husband in all the events involving the social club he co-founded, “The Pyramids Incorporated”. She also participated in her own social club, “The Chatter Chicks” with one of her best friends and the godmother of two of her children, Rita Marshall. With her husband, they exposed the family to happy times that included social gatherings and trips. This encouraged an unbreakable family union and resulted in the formation of the “Family Circle”. The Family Circle is a support group which uplifts the spiritual, financial, emotional and physical well-being of the family. She is survived by: her children, Jeannette, Dorothy, Walter, Sandra, Robert and Renee with whom her legacy continues; a brother, Bernard (Pee-wee) Gillis Jr. along with other members of the Gillis family; daughter-in-law, June; son-in- law, David; fourteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind cousins, Jackie and Jerome and her long-time friend, Rita Marshall. She is also mourned by a host of family and friends.

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Marion M. Bruce

November 5, 1929 - September 2, 2010