Marianne Larson

Marianne Cioppa Larson of Hickory NC passed away at home surrounded by her family on March 12, 2018 after a brief illness.  Born December 22, 1930 in Green Island New York, she is preceded in death by her father Antimo Cioppa and her mother Theresa Capuano Cioppa.  Marianne is survived by her husband of 64 years Carl A. Larson and children, Peter Larson of Durham, Beth Stephens of Hickory, Robert Larson and his wife Elizabeth Hodgson of Raleigh, Timothy Larson of Hickory NC, and Mark Larson and his wife Vicky of Raleigh.  In addition she is survived by her brother, Reverend John Cioppa of Maryknoll NY, her sister Joanne Cobart of Albany NY and Joanne’s husband Wesley.  Marianne was devoted to, and took great pride in her 6 grandchildren:  Kate York and her husband Nathan of Mooresville NC, Carl E. Larson and his fiancée Liz Walter of Raleigh, Max Larson of Raleigh, Nicholas Larson of Atlanta GA, Timothy John (TJ) Larson of Hickory, and Thor Larson of Okinawa Japan.

She is also remembered by extended family Barbara Sauve of Hickory, Donald and Inara Larson of Vernon CT, and nieces and nephews and their children in Albany NY, Clifton Park NY, Portland CT, and Port Tobacco MD.

A lifelong educator, she graduated from Catholic Central High School in Troy NY and the New York State Teacher’s College (now University at Albany) in Albany NY.  She taught high school for several years in Burnt Hills NY, and met her husband while he was attending Union College in Schenectady NY.  She continued teaching in Connecticut and after moving to North Carolina at Granite Falls Elementary and Middle Schools.  After retiring from teaching with the NC Public School system she continued her passion by volunteering to teach English as a second language in Hickory.

She was a dedicated parishoner of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Hickory where she provided service to the parish community as receptionist and as head of funeral planning.  She was a regular participant in a women’s book club of fellow parishoners.

She enjoyed traveling with her husband, family and friends abroad and for many years spent time in the fall on the Carolina coast with a close group of lifelong friends.  She especially enjoyed time spent over the past 35 years with family and friends at a small cabin in the mountains near Blowing Rock NC. She loved family time and cherished opportunities to play card games and board games with her children and grandchildren.  But, she took no mercy and played to win, no matter the opponent!  She was a Tar Heel basketball fanatic, entering into friendly wagers with other family fans throughout the season.   She was proud of her Italian heritage and instilled a knowledge and appreciation of Italian culture in her family and friends.

The family will receive friends at 9:30 am on Monday March 19 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Hickory NC followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am.  Inurnment will be at the church columbarium following mass.


The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory be made to the Maryvale Sisters, 2522 June Bug Road, Vale, NC 28168  OR the Marianne and Carl Larson Scholarship at Penland School of Crafts, 67 Doras Trail, Bakersville, NC 28705.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Larson family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton 828-464-1555 .

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