Marcella Pettine Blease Rodgers was born in L'Aquila, Italy on October 28, 1929, to Pietro and Alice Pettine. She later moved to Rome, Italy with her parents, where they lived during WWII. After Italy was liberated by the Allied Troops in 1944, Marcella met her husband, James Blease. They married in Rome and Marcella had her daughter, Gerrie, before the family moved to the USA. Marcella came to America not knowing how to speak English, but she learned quickly. She became a widow at the age of 31.
Marcella was a life-long Catholic and worshiped at St. Joseph's Catholic Church until she became physically unable to go but continued to watch on the television.
She had many life-long friends, both American and Italian, but she outlived almost all of them. She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, her son, Ernest C. Blease and her granddaughter Amanda Blease Stegenga. She is survived by her loving daughter Germaine, her grandson James Blease (Buffy), her granddaughter Alicia Blease, her great-grandchildren Summer Davidson, Bailey Carey, Nicholas, Jason and Jackson Stegenga, Winford Walker (Brittany), Christopher Blease (Amber) and Philip Blease, and five great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her former daughter-in-law, Sandra Penland.
There will be a Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 11:00 am, with The Rite of Committal in the church columbarium. A reception will be held immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3512 Devine St, Columbia, SC 29205.
