Marion Yvonne Crocetti Mantz

Marion Yvonne Crocetti Mantz passed away Tuesday February 17th, 2026 at her home in Colorado. She was 96 years old. Marion was the youngest of 4 children, born September 17th, 1929 in Lynchburg, Virginia to Abidon and Rosamond (Pleasants) Crocetti. Marion’s father - Abidon Guido Michele Crocetti came to the US from Giulianova in Italy in 1903 and throughout her life, Marion was always proud of her Italian roots. Through her mother’s family, Marion could also trace her roots back to John Pleasants, who immigrated from England to the colony of Virginia around 1644. Marion’s first memory was being in kindergarten around the age of 4. Her sister Helen and Tom came to pick her up at school but a classmate told her to hide. They didn’t find Marion until it was too late for Helen and Tom to go on their plane tour of the city that they had booked earlier. The plane crashed so she probably saved them. (you’re welcome, cousin Carol! - Helen and Tom’s daughter). Marion attended elementary school for 4 years right across the street from her home in Lynchburg. Being the “baby” of the family (but not at all spoiled!), she recalls her brother, Warren, carrying her to school when it rained so she didn’t get wet feet! Marion took ballet and piano for 7 years and played viola in an orchestra for 4 years at E. C. Glass High School in Lynchburg. She had 2 bikes to ride, a pair of skates (and a brand new key). She rode in the schoolyard across the street and played hopscotch, jump rope and tag with her childhood friends Audrey and Shirley Mosby, Myrtle Suddith, Ann and Jean Bruce. She met her beloved husband Frank when he came to the house with one of Marion’s cousins to pick up an album “Showboat” that she had borrowed. Frank was attending Lynchburg College at the time and later transferred to Rutgers in New Jersey. He soon returned to Lynchburg and Marion and Frank decided to elope to Gaffney, South Carolina. After marrying, the couple moved to New Jersey, where Marion worked at an engineering company in Teaneck, NJ. She remembers getting in trouble when she didn’t get the payroll done in time the very first week she worked there. After Frank graduated in 1952, they moved to Horse Pasture, Virginia (yes - it’s a real place!), then to Martinsville, Virginia. Frank’s job with DuPont meant that he and Marion moved every 4 or 5 years. They next went to Minneapolis in 1956, Tulsa in 1961, Atlanta in 1964, Wilmington, Delaware in 1969 and finally to Colorado in 1972, where they eventually built the home of their dreams at Lake of the Pines in Boulder, Colorado. Over the years, the home became the center of many joyous family activities, parties with friends etc. - Marion was always the welcoming hostess and being an Italian at heart insisted on feeding everyone who came to visit (Mangia!). Marion had a great wit and wonderful sense of humor and was renowned for her one-liners. She and husband Frank used to spar regularly and made everyone laugh. Later in life she

became an avid sports fan. She was a big Broncos and Nuggets fan and never missed a game. She loved vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and whenever she could would love to go to Las Vegas. Marion is survived by her 5 beautiful children - Vicki Christensen, Gail (Steve) Evans, Valli (Mark) Price, Greg Mantz and Natalie (Jonathan) Warshaw, “bonus” daughter Ruth, her 5 beautiful grandchildren - Courtney Stoddard, Danielle Price, Jeffrey Price, Daphne (Travis) Dollak and Noah Warshaw, as well as 6 wonderful great grandchildren - Micah Price, Channing Price, Mia Price, Atalia Price, Nola Stoddard and Lincoln Dollak as well as “bonus” grandchildren - Christian and Nicky Avedon. Marion has a special place in all of our hearts. She will be missed!!

A celebration of Marion’s life will be held at 2pm Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Crist Mortuary Chapel, 3395 Penrose Place, Boulder, CO,

followed by a small gathering at Marion’s daughter Valli’s home in Longmont (details to be provided during the ceremony).