Marian Elizabeth Devincenzi

Marian Elizabeth Crombie Devincenzi, age 86, of San Jose, California passed away on Sunday, March 20, 2022. Marian was born September 3, 1935, in Columbus, Wisconsin, a small town about 25 miles from Madison, to John Crombie, an Irish dairy farmer, and Frances Specht Crombie, a German housewife. She grew up in a strong Republican household (her dad made her read the Chicago Tribune), a devout Catholic household, and a sports-crazed household, that followed Notre Dame and Green Bay football. Marian attended Columbus High School where she played flute in the marching band and later Edgewood College, a small women’s only college in Madison, Wisconsin where she earned her teaching credential in elementary education.

Upon completing her education, she moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin to teach elementary school, but more importantly to follow the Green Bay Packers! She described herself as a groupie and remembered finding out what hotels the players stayed at and where they liked to eat and drink. She would get footballs signed by Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr and the rest of the Packers and donate the autographed footballs to the local church to raffle. She also remembered going to Milwaukee Braves games before the team moved to Atlanta.

When her mother developed arthritis, it was upon her to follow the doctor’s instructions and move her mother to a warmer climate. Her brother Jack (who passed away in 2011) was busy with a 400-acre farm and 8 kids! Since her mother had family in San Jose, California, they moved West. Marian resumed her teaching career and dreamed of getting married. In 1969, she married John Devincenzi (who passed away in 2004), a Bay Area native, from a close-knit Italian family. They settled in San Jose and eventually had two daughters, Brigid and Keelin.

Marian was a regular at Sunday mass at various parishes including Holy Spirit in San Jose and St. Mary’s in Los Gatos. In 2015, around her 80th birthday, she was diagnosed with dementia and managed herself at her home for two years with help from her two daughters and a wonderful caregiver. She then moved into a facility, Pacific Gardens, where she enjoyed the patient and caring staff, her daily dessert, and visits from her four granddaughters Lilly, Olivia, Indira and Elina. In 2020, she moved into a small board and care facility and was lovingly taken care of by a husband and wife team, Gary and Pamela. She passed away peacefully on March 20, 2022

A visitation for Marian will be held Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 6:00 PM with Rosary at 7:00 PM at Lima Family Santa Clara, 466 N. Winchester Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050. A Funeral Mass will be on Friday, April 22, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Holy Spirit Church, 1200 Redmond Ave, San Jose, CA 95120. Interment to follow at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln St, Santa Clara, CA 95050.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.limafamilysantaclara.com for the Devincenzi family.