Jul 13, 2023

Marlene Uryga, of Zionsville, Ind., passed away Saturday, July 8, 2023, after battling complications from hip surgery and a brief bout of pneumonia.

Marlene (born Alta Marlene) was born in Avella, July 3, 1934, to the late John and Alta Winters Kirschner. She was the third oldest of six children.

Marlene graduated from Avella’s Independence Township High School in 1952. Her interests and activities included playing piano for the high school choir and local church, serving as a scorekeeper for the basketball team, and being honored as her high school’s Prom Queen.

After high school, Marlene moved to Washington, D.C., to serve in her first career job as a clerk and typist for the U.S. Defense Department. Between 1954 and 1964, she lived in Falls Church, Va., and worked at the Pentagon, serving as an executive assistant to a number of high-ranking Army and Navy officers. She could type 100 words per minute, with no mistakes.

Between 1965 and 1970, Marlene supported her husband’s military career, having moved with him and her sons to Carlisle; Huntington Beach, Calif.; and Spokane, Wash. She coordinated large parties and events for military families.

Between 1975 and 1982, Marlene had her second career job as a sales representative for Home Interiors and Gifts, where she leveraged her designing expertise to decorate hundreds of homes in Spokane. She was the region’s top sales person for three years, and rewarded with many trips to the company’s annual convention in Dallas, Texas, where she got to meet Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry and star quarterback Roger Staubach. But, she always remained devoted to the Steelers.

Between 1982 and 1995, Marlene had her third career job in Spokane, serving as an executive assistant to a number of stock brokers for Piper Jaffrey Hopwood / UBS.

Between 1995 and 2004, after a very brief period of retirement, Marlene served in her fourth career job as an account executive for Spokane’s Tax Assessor’s office. She always enjoyed working and staying busy.

After retiring in 2004, she became an active volunteer of Spokane’s First Church of the Nazarene, her church for 30 years. She loved her church family, and helped with bookkeeping duties and knitted many quilts for charity.

During her golden years, Marlene loved to play bridge, read more than 1,000 books, took eight ocean cruises with friends and family, attended many jazz concerts, and was an exceptional cook. Of all her travels, her favorite places to visit were Soda Springs, Calif.; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and Glacier National Park, Mont.

Marlene positively touched the lives of many people during her life’s journey. She lived a clean, pure life, and was a devout Christian, who had an unshakeable faith. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend, mother and grandmother, and will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents, Alta and John Kirschner; her eldest sister, Evelyn Brandenburg; and her younger brothers, Marvin Kirschner and Kenny Kirschner. She was also preceded in death by her three husbands in life, Charles Novacco (married 1954 to 1964), Lewis Denny (married 1965 to 1982) and Tom Uryga (married 1984 to 2014).

Marlene is survived by her older brother, Dwayne (Rosemary) Kirschner; and younger sister, Darla Myers, both of Avella. She is also survived by her eldest son, Charles Denny of Honolulu, Hawaii, and her younger son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Shilpa Denny of Zionsville, Ind.; and her three grandchildren, Mina Denny, Samuel Denny and Simon Denny.

Friends and family will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 14, in the Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home Inc., 18 Campbell Street, Avella, PA 15312, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 15, with Pastor Rich Narus officiating. Burial will be in West Point Cemetery, Avella.

Condolences may be expressed at www.stefkovichfuneralhome.com.