Marion Nusbaum

Marion Nusbaum, 93, passed away in her sleep January 11, 2025 after a brief illness. She was born Marion Hartenbaum on March 25, 1931. In her final days, as always, Marion was surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren (and great-great grandson) as well as her many adoring friends, all who took tender and loving care of her every waking moment.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Marion’s mother and father owned a local grocery and she attended Cleveland Heights High School, graduating in 1948. She went on to attend Ohio State when she met and then married her late husband, Herb Nusbaum on Dec. 7th, 1952. Before relocating to Arizona, Marion and Herb grew their young family in the suburbs of Cleveland. Marion was a licensed residential real estate agent in both Ohio and Scottsdale Arizona, where they relocated in 1971. She and Herb also owned several of their own Valley businesses, including Cork'n Bottle liquors in Phoenix, which they sold in 1976.

After retiring from real estate (Coldwell Banker), Marion worked full-time for 18 years in the Fine China department of Robinson May Company at Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, from which she retired in 2006. After that, she worked part-time at Bath & Body in Fashion Square as everyone’s favorite sales associate until she was 84. She never had one single unkind thing to say about anyone and was always genuinely concerned about the welfare of not just her friends, family, and colleagues but anyone her friends, family and colleagues loved and cared about.

Marion was known to many as an extraordinary, kind, loving and unconditionally supportive friend, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. There was nothing she loved more than spending time laughing around the table with family and friends, and she was a wicked Mah-jongg player–rarely ever losing. She was famous for walking 5 miles a day every day through Fashion Square Mall at a pace no one of any age could keep up with. However, in 2014, with her trademark warrior spirit, she survived a near-fatal car accident that curtailed her fast-walking regimen, though she otherwise made a miraculous full recovery.

For most of her adult life, Marion was an early riser getting up at 4:30 every morning and getting properly dressed and coiffed to meet the day with infectious joy and gratitude. She had a large circle of close friends with whom she gathered regularly and was renowned for including them in her large family gatherings and holidays. Marion was a tremendous cook preparing all the dishes for every holiday from scratch and by herself and then later sharing the recipes with any grandchild who wanted to learn. In 2024, she was able to meet her now-thriving first great-great grandson who was born Sept. 9. 2024, 10 weeks premature.

Marion was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Herb Nusbaum, their son, Bruce, her sister Rita Frankel, and her grandson-in-law Jordan Martin. She is survived by her daughters Randi Wilson (m. Tom Wilson) and Suzy Dendy (m. Ray Dendy); son, Roger Nusbaum (m. Ellen Nusbaum); six grandchildren: Jamie Francis (m. Tony Francis), Donald Joseph Totten, Rachael Cordova (m. Skyler Cordova), Dallas Fattouch (m. Rob Fattouch), Jillian Nusbaum, and Kylee Bell; 10 great grandchildren: Gabriel Kinnaird, Eli Kinnaird (p. Reagan Craig), Quentin Kinnaird, Xander Kinnaird, Talia Cordova, Jordyn Cordova, Marina Preszler, Mason Bell, Scarlett Bell, Chloe Contreras and Brixton Contreras; great-great grandson Jackson Parker; and numerous adoring nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery, 401 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85257. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley.