Marianne Bogan

Marianne Brenner Bogan, 62 years young, rose to eternal life on November 15th, 2018, holding tightly the hands of Larry, her beloved husband of 38 years, and her son T.J. Her last hours were peaceful, unbounded love radiating from her bedside. Having fought bravely against cancer for three years, she was ready to rest. Much like her father, she has always been hard to keep up with, whether in navigating through distant lands or in intellectually demanding argument. Her body was just no match for her ambition. Freed from this physical hindrance, she can now go everywhere, learn everything, and take care of everyone all while enjoying a good bourbon and catching up with her favorite musicians (all of whom have been dead a long time).

Proudly born in Atlanta on June 23, 1956, Marianne moved with her parents to Cincinnati, Ohio at age 5, stowing away all the moonpies and RC Cola she could carry. She attended St. James elementary school, McAuley and Colerain high schools, and upon graduation from Miami University (which no longer serves toasted rolls), she returned to Georgia to work for Union Carbide. Having settled into a “singles” apartment complex (totally illegal now) in Marietta, she soon met Larry, and the two were married there on March 8, 1980.

While Marianne had many gifts, she was most admired for her creativity, resourcefulness and tenacity. She always found a way to enrich others’ lives and her own by redefining our idea of what is possible. A patron of the arts, a committed servant to the less fortunate, a compassionate mentor, and devoted Christian disciple, she was many things to so many people. She was as adept with a cross-stitch needle as she was with a saw, as cunning with words as she was with numbers. A jack-of-all-trades, a Renaissance woman, a scholar and an artist.

Marianne’s passport together with her odometer and countless eye witness accounts will belie the intensity of her wanderlust and unquenchable thirst for knowledge and experiences. Even just a few months ago, she and Larry travelled to Stockholm, Helsinki and St. Petersburg only to lose steam at the very last leg of the journey. No power, earthly or otherwise could steer her away from this last adventure.

Marianne was preceded in death by her parents Thomas Brenner Sr. and Betty Shinnamon Brenner. She is survived by her husband, Lawrence Bogan, her son Thomas Joseph Bogan and his wife Madeleine Rekerdres Bogan, her brothers George Brenner and Thomas Brenner Jr., a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, second cousins and cousins once-removed.

Visitation will be held Monday the 19th from 5 pm -8 pm at H.M. Patterson & Son - Canton Hill Chapel, 1157 Old Canton Rd, Marietta, GA 30068. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday the 20th at Holy Family Catholic Church, 3401 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30068 with interment to follow at Georgia Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of sending flowers, please make a contribution in Marianne’s honor to the Holy Family St. Vincent de Paul Society.