Marjorie “Marge” Telfer

Marjorie June (Labesky) Telfer, 91, passed away peacefully on November 14th with her husband John by her side. She was predeceased by her parents Frank and Christine (Atanasu) Labesky, siblings Marie [Medi] & Erwin Crippen, Joseph & Leota Labesky, William [Dots] & Jan Labesky, Ann [Hatsie] & Willie Cantalope, and twins Jeanette & Johnny Labesky; her half-brothers & sisters Marguerite, Tony, Virginia, Joe, and John Kalin; her brother & sister in-laws Edward Trojnar and Floyd & Rosemary Lafreniere, and nephew Connor James Telfer.
Marge is survived by her husband John of 66 years, and her four sons and their spouses: Matt & Angie, Bob & Debby, Bill & Angie, and Joe & Donna; grandchildren Marie & Brooks Rocco, Darin & Laura Telfer, Laura & Jason Radman, Amber Telfer & Dylan Pakkala, Patrick Sweeney, Ben Telfer, and Natalie Telfer; great-grandchildren Jackson & Asher Radman, Robin & Melanie Telfer, and Nile Zane Rocco. She is also survived by her many beloved nieces and nephews.
Margie (as she was known by her siblings) was born on November 1st, 1930, in Aberdeen, SD. She lost her mother at the age of 8, and spent her teenage years caring for her father and her brothers and sisters. After graduating from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in 1948, she moved to Sacramento, CA and lived with her sister Medi while working for the local phone company. While in Sacramento, Marge met her future husband John during a ski trip sponsored by a local church. They were married on June 18th, 1955, in the Sacramento Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and returned to the Binghamton area where she worked for IBM for a number of years. After starting a family, John and Marge and their four sons moved to Ross Corners and finally settled in Apalachin, NY in 1969, where they have lived ever since.
A member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Vestal, NY for over 60 years, Marge served on the Parish Council and in the Hospitality, Youth, and Eucharistic Ministries, and was a member of the Adult Choir, Altar Rosary Society, RCIA, and various bible study groups. In 2018 she received the Immaculata Award from the Diocese of Syracuse, and in 2015, she was the recipient of the SERTOMA Service to Mankind Award. She proudly served in the Vestal Volunteer Fire Department Company #3 Ladies Auxiliary, the Knights of Columbus Council #4746 Women’s Auxiliary, and was a member of the Vestal Elks.
Marge loved the outdoors, and enjoyed the nighttime skies, gardening, playing cards with her friends, traveling, camping, and above all, being with her family. She was an awesome cook and loved a good party, including many functions at OLS over the years as well as the annual Tobey Road Christmas Caroling party. She had many other interests and will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
A funeral mass will be held on Monday, November 22nd, 10 AM, at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 801 Main Street, Vestal, NY, followed by internment at St. Augustine’s Cemetery in Brackney, PA. Calling hours will be on Sunday, November 21st, from 1-3 PM at Allen Memorial Home, 511 Main Street, Endicott, NY. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry or to a charity of your choice.