Marianne J. Schoeffield, homemaker

Marianne J. Schoeffield, an Ellicott City homemaker who was active in her church, died June 30 from a cardiac arrest at Howard County General Hospital. She was 82.

Mary Ann Josephine Puppa, who later changed her name to Marianne, was born in Baltimore and raised in Highlandtown and Dundalk. She was the daughter of Adam Puppa, a Bethlehem Steel shipyard worker, and Josephine Puppa, a sales associate for Hecht Co.

She attended St. Rita’s parochial school in Dundalk and was a 1953 graduate of Catholic High School.

Mrs. Schoeffield went to work as a secretary at the old Four Roses Distillery in Dundalk, eventually becoming executive secretary to the company’s head manager.

She was married in 1958 to Charles H. “Chuck” Schoeffield, who later received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park and became a sales engineer for Gould Inc.

In the early 1960s, Mrs. Schoeffield left her position at Four Roses to raise her family. In 1966, she and her husband and their two children moved to Ellicott City.

She was an active communicant of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Ilchester, and played a pivotal role in bringing the Sisters of St. Francis from Sylvania, Ohio, to become teachers and administrators at the parish school.

Mrs. Schoeffield and her husband established an Amway business in the early 1970s and were still operating it at the time of her death.

She enjoyed entertaining family and friends and was known for her preparation of Polish dishes.

She had visited Poland, the Virgin Islands, Florida and Ocean City.

A Mass of Christian burial was offered Friday at her church.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Schoeffield is survived by her son, Clark J. Schoeffield of Ellicott City; a daughter, Monica S. Gillam of Ellicott City; and three grandchildren. Another son, Craig A. Schoeffield, died in 1961.