Obituary of Marjorie Cherry Breder

Marjorie "Margie" Cherry Breder, age 91, formally of Dresher, Pennsylvania, and Wildwood Crest, New Jersey passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home on Monday, August 21, 2023, in Venice, Florida. She was born Marjorie Cherry Ruttle to Warren and Margaret "Peg" Ruttle on July 6, 1932. Margie graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1950. In 1954 she earned her bachelor's degree in printing and typography from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), the first woman to receive a bachelor's degree in this major from the school. Margie was no stranger to feats. She was diagnosed with Polio at age seven, which left her temporarily paralyzed. She received care in an iron lung at the inception of WWII and emerged as a survivor who did not balk at life. Marjorie met her husband W. Donald Breder while racing Comet Class sloops in Wildwood Crest. Throughout her married life she and her family chartered cruising sailboats in the Chesapeake Bay and New England commanding the galley and educational trips to museums ashore. And in later years commanding her various runabouts. At home, Margie dedicated her life to raising six children, including her youngest daughter Susan, born with Cerebral Palsy. She never let the demanding burden of caring for Susan at home for 25 years show, always handling it with love and grace. While this was more than a full-time job, Margie was quite active socially as a member of the Union League of Philadelphia, Manufacturers' Golf and Country Club, Questers, The Greater Wildwood Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club of Cape May, Stone Harbor Yacht Club, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority's Philadelphia Alumni Chapter, and local bridge and rummy tournaments. She was a long-time member of the Jarrettown United Methodist Church and volunteered for Meals on Wheels for many years. Popular, vivacious, and an admired raconteur, Margie was a social butterfly who could disarm strangers to reveal their deepest, darkest secrets in brief, casual conversation. She was an accomplished chef and will be well-remembered for an anglicized version of an exotic dish – more for its name than the dish itself – although she was known to burn the dinner rolls. She loved to share her beautiful voice and we are all thankful that she was persuaded not to "run away with the band" while in college. She was a loving and doting mother and grandmother, avoided tom foolery, laughed good-heartedly at her husband's demands for prompt meals, and was never noticeably drunk, but was very likely to be at least 20mph over the speed limit if conditions permitted (never convicted). Margie was predeceased by her devoted husband of 64 years, W. Donald Breder; her youngest daughter Susan Leslie Breder; and her son-in-law Anthony Guerrieri. Margie leaves behind her beloved surviving children: Gary Warren (Sue) Breder, David Wallace Breder, Tobias Donald (Violet) Breder, Linda Guerrieri (Bill) Condon, and Bruce Arthur (Allison) Breder; twelve grandchildren: Christopher Drew Breder (Chrissy Pappas), Melissa Jeanne (Bob) Valesky, Kelseanne Peirpoint Breder (Neal Donnelly), Korey Breder Guerrieri, Tyler Quinton (Amy) Breder, Eliza Margaret Breder, Dana Lauren Guerrieri, Preston Embury (Lauren) Breder, Evan Burke Breder, Rachel Susan (Josh) Wolf, Madison Wright (Brittany) Breder, and Tucker Reed Breder; and four great-grandchildren: Emily Lynn Valesky, Ryan James Valesky, Warren James Breder, and Maisey Johanna Breder. In lieu of flowers, the family request that you consider donating to United Cerebral Palsy. A celebration of life will be held for Margie at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, 1460 Limekiln Pike, Dresher, PA 19025 on December 30, 2023 at 11:00 am. All are welcome.