Marcia Coutant Averre
June 20, 1920 - November 06, 2016
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Marcia Coutant Averre
June 20, 1920 - November 06, 2016
Obituary
Marcia Coutant Averre, age 96, passed away peacefully in Bellingham, WA on November 6, 2016. Marcia lived a wonderful, one might even say, a charmed life. A life for which she was so grateful. From her first days on earth to her very last she was gracious, charming, witty, humorous, vibrant, full of talent, energy, and love. Even in her last moments she was gracing us with laughter and wit.
One of three children, Marcia was born on June 10, 1920 in Flushing, NY to Russel & Alicia (Leslie) Coutant. Russel was an esteemed Wall Street attorney; Alicia, a cultured New England Society woman. Marcia’s lineage stretches back to the earliest European influences in America. Her Huguenot ancestors, descended from William the Conqueror, fled religious persecution and arrived in the New World on The Mayflower. This heritage inspired Marcia’s love of genealogy and granted her membership in The Daughters of the American Revolution.
Marcia grew up in Flushing, on Long Island. Prior to her music career she attended college close to home in Pennsylvania. As a young woman Marcia lived in Manhattan where she was an entertainer, acting on the stage, playing piano, and singing in musicals and operas. During these years, as she was proud to tell you, the gay performers she was friends with called her “Cherry,” because she was such an ingénue. She maintained this quality of endearing innocence her whole life long. This is also when Marcia began a 30-year career teaching private piano lessons.
On September 26, 1943 Marcia married Richard Edward Averre, a pianist and composer, in Yardley, PA. She and Richard met at the New Tour Opera in the Yardley Play House, where he accompanied her on the piano. Because Marcia’s parents disapproved of their relationship, they courted in secret for four years before finally marrying. For 30 years, they lived on the banks of the Delaware River in Washington Crossing, PA. Among many shared pursuits, Marcia and Richard were involved with the Music Circus in Lambertville, NJ. Here they met many Broadway luminaries and up and coming stars performing in summer stock productions. Marcia relished reminiscing about the famous people she had befriended over the years: people like Gene Kelly’s twin brother Fred Kelly, actor/singer Dan Keyes, Blythe Danner, Florence Henderson, and Dom DeLuise.
In 1987, Marcia and Richard moved to Bellingham, WA to be near their children and grandchildren. They quickly became involved in their new-found community. For many years Marcia sang with both the Whatcom Chorale and St. Paul’s Episcopal Choir, where she and Richard were church members. In keeping with their generosity, they donated their grand piano to the church.
In addition to her love of the stage, music, dance, and art, Marcia was a gardener and outdoor enthusiast. She began living a health-conscious lifestyle complete with home grown and organic foods, exercise, and yoga as early as the 1950’s. Well into her nineties Marcia both stood on her head for 10 minutes and walked several miles, every day. In fact, she began her very last day on this earth as she had so many prior, with a bit of yoga.
In her later years Marcia was easily inspired to display her wit and acuity by working crossword & word search puzzles, reciting the Greek alphabet, and singing any of the hundreds of songs she knew by heart. It was in these years that she took her greatest joy in being surround by a warm and loving family.
Marcia was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Edward Averre in 2001, sister Georgette, and brother John.
She is survived by daughters Suzanne Amelia Averre (Don Anderson), & Amy Alicia Averre (Marc Baranowski), son Richard Russel Averre (Teri Cruzan), grandchildren: Aimee Eleatha Wollin Flowers (Brian), Sonia Sucia Wollin (Brian McConnell), and Justin Neill Averre (Lydia), step-grandchildren Max Anderson-Portnoy (Meg Kapousouz), Morgan Ellis, and Nate Cruzan, seven great-grandchildren with one more on the way, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2117 Walnut St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Reception to follow.
As Marcia frequently said when gazing into the eyes of her loved ones, “We’re soooo lucky.”
Memorial Service
- Date & Time: November 12, 2016 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: St Pauls Episcopal Church
- Location: 2117 Walnut St Bellingham, WA 98225 - (Get Directions)
5 responses to Marcia Coutant Averre
Angela Langner says:
November 6, 2016
Dear Suzanne,
My heart goes out to you and your family on the loss of your extraordinarily wonderful mother. While I didn’t have the privilege of knowing her, I know you’re grateful for having had her for such a long and glorious time and that you’ll miss her dearly. May your beautiful memories comfort you.
Love,
Angela
Paul Johnson says:
November 6, 2016
Dearest Marcia,
I must learned of your passing today, January 8, 2017. Both Cynthia and I have such fond memories of you and Dick at St. Paul’s. Dick wrote a solo for me ” Lullaby for a New-Born Child.”
I sang it today at St. Brendan’s. I called Park Chateau to see if I could invite you to come and hear it. They told me you moved some time ago; you certainly did!
People were blessed to hear Dick’s music today and their hearts were warmed to hear a little of your story which I shared with them prior to singing. Dick gave me this piece before he passed. It really should be published so others could enjoy it.
We will definitely meet again and it will be a glorious day! You have both blessed me and many others.
Love always,
Paul and Cynthia Johnson
Sandra Slover Mottner says:
November 6, 2016
Dear Suzanne and family,
My best wishes to you and your family at this time. It is hard to lose a beloved parent. Our dad loved your dear mother and the rest of the Slover family who were privileged to meet and know your mother fell in love with her too. What a beautiful human being in every way. Our thoughts and deep appreciation for such a lovely person as your mother go to you.
She will be singing with the angels.
Best regards,
Sandra.
Paula Averre Pryal says:
November 6, 2016
How I loved you when I was growing up. You were my poetry, my story, my role model.As a woman empowered her own truth, I learned to cherish my broken wings so they would be strong, to honor my heart, to see beauty in all things whether they be hungry, elegant, laughing or anointed by tears.
You will always be my inspiration as I will forever remember the tenderness of your loving soul.
I love you
Paula
Michele North says:
November 6, 2016
Hello,My sympathies go out to the family and friends in the loss of your dear loved one . May the promise found at Revelation 21 : 4 bring you comfort. ” And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. May you find peace in the days ahead. www.jw.org