Marianne Elizabeth Berridge

Marianne Elizabeth McGowen Casey Berridge passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 25, 2023 with family at her side. Marianne was born on July 7, 1929 at 11:20 am, in Cook County, Evanston, Illinois to Thomas N. McGowen and Lucille E. McGowen (nee Monighan). Third of 3 children. Older sister (Lucy) and older Brother (Tom). Her early years were spent living at 439 Grove Avenue, Glencoe, Illinois. Baptized at Sacred Heart Church, Hubbard Wood, Illinois. Her father joked that Marianne brought the stock market crash with her when born. Her father was a very successful bond broker on the Chicago Exchange.

In 1933 the family moved to Whippoorwill Farm (40 Acres), Mettawa Illinois, a local riding venue, attracting even the Vanderbilt family. Her father moved a wartime friend, Jean Poutz to the farm to attend the stables and horses and teach Marianne and her siblings how to ride. Jean Poutz was with the French Calvary and fought with her father against the Germans in WWI. Marianne fondly recalls that Jean oversaw raising her and siblings while Mom & Dad were busy socializing. Marianne’s elementary school years were spent at Halsey Day School, founded in 1888 in Lake Forest, Illinois n/n/a Lake Forest Country Day School.

During WW II, while brother Tom was fighting in the Pacific with the US Marines Carlson’s Raiders, the family rented a house in Lake Bluff. After the war, in 1945 her father purchased the AB Dick Estate in Lake Forest Illinois. There, Marianne attended school at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, a private, Roman Catholic girls' school. Marianne attended Mount Vernon Seminary and College, a private women's college in Washington, D.C. It merged with George Washington University in 1999 and is now known as the Mount Vernon Campus of The George Washington University. She also traveled throughout Europe with her mother for 6 months after WW II.

Marianne was free spirited and very adventurous. In the early 1950’s, Marianne and best friend, Shelia Becker, and Shelia’s young daughter rode a bus from Chicago to Mexico City where Marianne worked at a novelty shop in the Del Parado Hotel. She eventually made her way to Acapulco to work with the water ski show at another Hotel. At some point while her parents were visiting her in Mexico, Marianne neglected to come home, and her parents sent the Mexican Army in search only to find she was at an all-night party that apparently extended into the next day.

In 1956, looking for more adventure, Marianne moves to Greenwich Village NY, often referred to by locals as simply "the Village", a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan, New York City. There she starts her career as an airline stewardess with Pan American World Airways, known from its founding until 1950 as Pan American Airways and commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States at that time. Her routes primarily were to/from South America including Argentina & Brazil. In those days, the layovers were long, affording time to explore those countries. Marianne’s fondest memories were of attending Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Her scariest occurred when her Pan American plane was almost shot down by rebels during their civil war.

While working for Pan American, Marianne married Daniel W. Casey on April 27, 1957. Daniel had recently been discharged from the Army as a 1st Lieutenant where he flew the L-19 reconnaissance plane in Korea. They moved to Ft. Lee New Jersey where Daniel started his carrier in the Insurance business. In 1960 after the birth of her son, Daniel N. Casey, they moved to Bronxville, a suburban village in Westchester County located north of midtown Manhattan.

In the 1960’s women with children were not allowed to continue work at Pan American and Marianne went to work for Tommi Anton Parzinger, a German furniture designer and painter in New York City. His works were collected by famous clients, including Billy Baldwin, Marilyn Monroe, and a number of high-fashion New York families. After the birth of her daughter, Gael J. Casey in 1963, Marianne became a full time Mom & housewife.

In 1967, her husband, Daniel, moved the family to Houston Texas, where he opened an office for the Mutual of New York Insurance Company. In 1975, Marianne took the position of Manager for Lilly Pulitzer in Houston. Lilly Pulitzer, was an entrepreneur, fashion designer, and American socialite. She founded Lilly Pulitzer, Inc., which produces clothing and other such wares featuring bright, colorful, floral prints. As the brand is popular with high society, she was called the "Queen of Prep" Marianne & Daniel divorced in 1977. Marianne continued to work for Lilly Pulitzer, the Houstonian, and other high-end retail stores for the next decade. In December 1987, Marianne married Bill Berridge, an executive at his brothers’ metal roofing company, Berridge Manufacturing. Bill passed away of Alzheimer’s in 2012, and Marianne moved to Austin, Texas to be close to her son & daughter.

Marianne is survived by her sister, Lucille McGowen Dewitt of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, her son, Daniel N. Casey of Austin, Texas, her daughter, Gael J. Slowik of Austin Texas, and grandsons, Christopher Maxwell Sheppard, Anthony Joseph Slowik III (Tony), and Westin Daniel Casey.

The family would like to express our thanks to all the wonderful caregivers at Querencia at Barton Creek and Halcyon Home Hospice for making Marianne’s last few years comfortable and enjoyable.