Marion D. (Bradley) Cummings, 88, beloved wife of Verne G. Cummings, entered into Eternal Rest on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, in the comfort of her home in Enfield, CT surrounded by her loving family. Marion was born in Springfield, MA on August 13, 1926, the daughter of the late Raymond G. Bradley and Bertha (Pooley) Bradley. She grew up in Springfield, MA and attended schools there, playing in the percussion section of the Buckingham Jr. High School Band and then played the clarinet in the band at Commerce High School, graduating in 1944. During WWII, Marion worked for the Springfield Armory making the trigger mechanism for the M-1 rifle that her sweetheart, Verne, was using in Italy. From 1944-1951 she was the Secretary for the principal of Technical High School in Springfield.
Marion met her sweetheart at a friend's house in Springfield, MA, who happened to be his first cousin. Marion and Verne were married July 31, 1948 at Hope Congregational Church in Springfield. They bought property in Enfield, cleared the land themselves, dug the well, and then together built their home where they have resided for the past 62 years. Marion’s family considered them pioneers and heroes that they could build their house themselves. Marion always said her biggest accomplishment in life was having dug the well herself! In 1960, after their 3 children were born, they bought one of the first Holiday Rambler travel trailers. In 1967, before travel trailers became popular, Marion and Verne took their family on a cross country trip visiting and camping at most of the National Parks in the country. Besides camping, her other enjoyments included snow skiing, ice skating, roller skating and being at the beach swimming in the ocean; she also enjoyed music, loved to dance and enjoyed watching UCONN Women's Basketball. Marion especially treasured the time spent with her family and friends. She was a long time member of the Hazardville Methodist Church. Marion devoted her married life to being a homemaker, was a very loving, devoted wife and mother and was the sweetest woman you ever met. In addition to her husband, Verne, of 67 years, she will be extremely missed by her daughter, Judy Smuda and her husband John of Marlborough, CT, her daughter, Sandra Therrien and her husband Dean, of Enfield, CT and her son, Gary Cummings and his life partner Lynn, of Enfield, CT. She also leaves two grandsons, Dean Therrien, Jr., Bret Therrien and his wife Cindy, a step-granddaughter, Ashley Hughes, a brother, Earle C. Bradley and his wife Shirley of Springfield, MA, a niece, Joyce Pennington, a nephew, Kenneth Bradley and two great grandchildren, Ryan and Hailey Therrien. She is also survived by three brother-in-laws, Art Cummings, Albert Cummings and his wife Nancy, Thomas Cummings and his wife Gale, and her sister-in-law Patricia Cummings, and their many children. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her nephew Ronald Bradley, her brother-in-law, Edward Cummings, her sister-in-law, Christine Piette and her husband Wilfred, and her sister-in-law, Hollie Cummings.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 5-7 p.m., Monday, July 20, 2015 at Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Rd., Enfield, CT. The funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 21 at Leete-Stevens. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Hazardville Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hazardville United Methodist Church, 330 Hazard Avenue, Hazardville, CT 06082.