Barbara Ann Marasco
Barbara Ann Marasco, a conservationist, gardener, and birdwatcher, died of pneumonia on April 1 in Stuart, Fla., at the age of 82. Although she and her husband had spent winters there for the last 20 years, she considered East Hampton her home and cherished nature’s seasonal variations here.
She was born on Aug. 31, 1934, in Teaneck, N.J., to Harry Seeback and the former Edith Cundy. She grew up in Ridgefield Park, N.J., and graduated from Ridgefield Park High School, where, at the age of 13, she met Ronald Marasco, who was to be her husband for 63 years. They were married in August 1953.
Although the Marascos reared their six children in Washington Township, N.J., it was the house near Three Mile Harbor, which they built in 1979 for weekends and later extended, that became a mecca for their family. It was called Harbor House at first, eventually becoming known simply as Grandma’s House.
Ms. Marasco traveled all over the world with her husband, who worked with international airlines, but she was never happier than in the spring, when she returned to East Hampton from Stuart, her family said, delighted to be back in her garden and able to walk only 100 yards to get to the harbor. She loved the simplicity of East Hampton’s environment, they said. She also volunteered with R.S.V.P., a small organization whose volunteers call older East Hampton Town residents regularly to make sure they are okay.
The couple’s six children, who survive, are Kathy Brown of Stamford, Conn., Karyn Gutierrez of New Canaan, Conn., Karyl Carlson of Simsbury, Conn., Ron Marasco Jr. of Stamford, Conn., Michael Marasco of Valencia, Calif., and Maria Marasco of Folly Beach, S.C. Also surviving are nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family received visitors on Friday at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. Ms. Marasco’s life was celebrated at a funeral Mass on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in East Hampton, the Rev. Msgr. Donald M. Hanson officiating. Ms. Marasco, who had been a parishioner there for 40 years, was buried at the church cemetery. Seven grandsons were pallbearers at the funeral, and her youngest daughter, Maria Marasco, participated in reading from the Scriptures. Her granddaughters Kristen Gutierrez and Christine Brown spoke, and her oldest son, Ron, gave a eulogy, speaking of his mother’s love of family and quoting from St. Paul’s soliloquy on love.
Ms. Marasco loved dogs and was a supporter of the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. The family therefore suggested memorial donations to ARF, P.O. Box 901, Wainscott 11975.