Marjorie Van Ryne Fisher

Marjorie E. Fisher
Born 9/15/1919
Passed on 9/7/2018, one week short of her 99th birthday.

Service: September 16, 2018 at White Haven Funeral Chapel, at 1 PM (No Prior Viewing)
Pre-deceased: By her Husband of 62 years Donald E. Fisher
Survived by her Daughter Susan (Fisher) Nurse, her Son-in-Law for 50 years, Richard Nurse, Granddaughter Sheri Lynn (Nurse) Morse, and her husband Scott A Morse, and her Great Granddaughter Hailey Noelle Morse


Born in Kendall NY daughter of Raymond Van Ryne and Gladys Wilson

A lifelong resident of Rochester, except during the depression years when 3+ generations of the family lived in Kendall house together to have access to farm food. Her father, Raymond commuted to Kodak Park, where he worked a 10 hr/week job and supported 8 adults and 2 children.

Marjorie attended and graduated 1938 from Ben Franklin High School. She then attended UR Prince Street Campus for Women as a History Major from 1938-1941 graduation. While at UR she and her beau Donald Fisher attended many Big Band dances in the Cutler Union Auditorium including a new singer, Frank Sinatra!, who they chatted with.

Marjorie married Donald Fisher Nov. 22, 1941. Within weeks the US entered WWII. Since Donald had a childhood injury, he was not eligible for duty and he was employed in critical work at Kodak. Marjorie worked at the rationing board.

After the war, they began to travel, one of their favorite things to do. Cape Cod and Williamsburg were their go-to places whenever they could get away. They bought a house in the city and Susan was born 1/7/1950. They were such wonderful parents and we had such fun together. We continued to take car trips to Cape Cod, Williamsburg, Gettysburg and summer weeks at a camp in Sodus Point where Donald's brother Lee Fisher and family also vacationed.

Marge's husband Donald, built lots of things, including a working replica of a 1903 Oldsmobile, as well as carving, stained glass, woodworking. Mrs. Fisher was a stay at home mom while her daughter was in school, and was active in Sewing Circles, was a Girl Scout leader. A scout service project of puppet making came to include the rest of her family in the project and went on to put on puppet shows around the Rochester Area for special needs children.

In 1963, when her husband was moved out to the new Kodak facility on Elmgrove Rd the family moved to Chili, Mrs. Fisher began to do substitute teaching at the elementary school level, normally at Florence Brasser School, in the Gates Chili School District. Florance Brasser became a "Family Affair" as her cousin Joann Squire was the Librarian along with fellow teacher Vivian Nurse, whose son would later marry her daughter, (a marriage that has lasted fifty years), and would bring her the joys of being a grandmother. She was a terrific teacher. At the principal Dan Abalee's urging, she began her graduate studies in Education at Suny Brockport where she graduated in 1969.

Marjorie Fisher and Vivian Nurse transferred with Principle Dan Abalee to the new Neil Armstrong School and enjoyed years of teaching. While overseas they both sent daughter Susan lots of stories that kept us connected to the family. It was a vital link as we were so far away and without family.

After Marge and Don's retirement, travel and card playing became a mainstay of gatherings with both family and friends. Then with the opening of the Genesee Country Museum in 1976, both Marjorie and Donald had found the workplace of their dreams. Donald was the 1st tinsmith and Marjorie did a lot of different things- meeting busses, working in costume in a variety of houses, working in the schoolhouse. When they watched their granddaughter Sheri, she always wanted to go to GCM which she thought was "Grandpa's Farm". After the season ended in the fall each year, many of the workers traveled by bus to other museums and had a wonderful time together. They also joined Retired Teachers Group where they bowled and hiked for years with the group.


After the passing of her husband in 2003, Marjorie continued to bowl and hike with the Retired Teacher group for years but also took RIT Osher classes including a Harry Potter class where they read the books and then attended the movies together in costume and wands! Marjorie also became an active volunteer at the Memorial At Gallery for her daughter Susan Nurse and enjoyed the events at the Gallery. In addition, the two traveled to art exhibits in Boston and New York City.

She was thrilled when granddaughter Sheri Morse became an elementary teacher too.

Marjorie's great joy was the birth of her great-granddaughter Hailey Morse 4/21/2005.

At 94, Marjorie seemed to be confused and then she fell so we took her to our home. This worked for awhile but we had lots of stairs and she began falling on them, she ended up in the hospital. We could not bring her back to our home so she entered Edna Tina Wilson Living Center. Within the first week she made a friend with Nancy L. and they were never apart until Nancy death () 2018. Marjorie was never the same after this. Marjorie was one week from her 99th birthday- 9/15/2019 when she passed away. She is now with her beloved husband of 63 years Donald Fisher.