Marcia M. Mierzwa

Marcia M. Mierzwa, 77, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 16, 2014 in her Bethlehem home. She was born in Newton, MA, daughter of the late J. Walter and Dorothea McQuiston. She was the devoted wife of the late John A. Mierzwa who died in 2011; they were married 50 years.

While attending Beaver Country Day School in Brookline, MA, she took a liking to both sport and the stage. During summers at her parents home on the Cape in Harwich Port, she performed at Cape Cods Melody Tent, as well as winning scores of races sailing for Stone Horse Yacht Club. She captained numerous classes of sailboats to victory in the Nantucket Sound, and won dozens of sailing series for SHYC .

After Marcia graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY (1958), she moved to New York City to act in various off-Broadway productions. She did return to the Bay State, and while in Cambridge, fell in love with John A. Mierzwa, after he received his Masters from Harvard University, and while he was working on his doctorate there.

After The University of Pennsylvania, Marcia and John decided that a change was in order and they both subsequently were charmed by Lehigh University and Bethlehem. Marcia quickly found solid friends here, especially with the ladies of the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley. In the late 1970s she started Information Processing Systems; typing, proofing, and producing books, papers, and manuscripts for many Valley residents. John remained with Lehighs Department/ School/ College of Education for almost 40 years.

While Marcia did sing with the Bach Choir for years, she really came into her own while performing with Lehigh Universities varied and highly talented singing ensembles. For the last years of Marcias life, her greatest love was for her incredible friends, the musical gifts and immeasurable talents of those Lehigh students, and especially Lehighs gifted faculty and musical departments- which kept offering musical challenges year after year, performance after performance, and practice after practiceafter practice.

She will be lovingly remembered by her son, John J. Mierzwa; sister, Gail Bursk; Brother in Law, Jack Bursk, Niece Katie; son-in-law, Kevin Wiechelt; and Kevins sons, Jack and Kevin Wiechelt. She was predeceased by her daughter, Karen Mierzwa Wiechelt, and her Nephew Jon Bursk.

A visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 21 at Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, from 2 to 4 p.m. with a 4 p.m. Prayer Service in the funeral home. A Memorial Service will follow at Lehighs Packer Chapel from 5 to 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made in Marcia's name to Lehigh Choral Arts to afford future students the opportunities for voice lessons, travel and performing that Marcia so much enjoyed.

Visitation
Friday, February 21, 2014
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Prayer Service
Friday, February 21, 2014
4:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Memorial Service
Friday, February 21, 2014
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Packer Memorial Chapel
Asa Packer Campus, Lehigh University
Bethlehem PA 18015
US

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531