Marilyn Corinne (Hess) Locascio died Thursday, April 25 at Glen Brook Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, where she resided since October 7, 2022, at age 91 of old age, following a lengthy and painful mental and physical decline. She lived in her Freas Avenue home for 52 years from 1974 – 2022.

Born Friday, February 10, 1933, at the Old Berwick Hospital, her parents were Margaret Genevieve Cooper Hess and Willis Harry Hess, Sr., who predeceased her in 1975 and 1981 respectively.

Marilyn began her education at the Knob Mountain one-room school and completed it when she graduated from Berwick High School, Class of 1950.

Right after WWII, as a young teenager, she began working at Hess Confectionery, a luncheonette owned by her uncle Charlie Hess and managed by her oldest brother Bob Hess, which had been located at the point where Front and Orange Streets meet. After high school she worked as a secretary. She worked in the packing department of Milco Industries, Berwick, from the early 1960’s until 1971. She then worked as a secretary for Kaydette Corporation, Dickson St, Berwick for 24 years from December 1971 until her retirement in February 1995.

Upon retirement she volunteered for the Berwick Public Library, when it was located on Chestnut Street, and was a member of Friends of the Library. She was instrumental in organizing many events when the library celebrated its 85th Anniversary in 2002. She took great pride in serving as secretary of the board of trustees, when in 2005 the community-wide capital campaign kicked off to raise funds to build the McBride Memorial Library, located on Market Street, which opened in 2008.

She was possibly Frank Sinatra’s biggest fan, and she devoured Steven King novels.

In her younger years, she was a member of the Sunshine Class of Grace Lutheran Church, Berwick.

Her husband Salvatore Michael Locascio, Jr. whom she married February 16, 1974, predeceased her October 3, 2023. His passing ended a marital span of 49 years, four and a half months short of their 50th Anniversary. The father of her three children was the late Arthur Guy VanPelt, Jr. whom she married March 10, 1951.

Surviving her are three children and their spouses: daughter Nancy VanPelt Chiado and Douglas, Bloomsburg; sons Glenn Arthur VanPelt and Mary; and Aaron Guy VanPelt and Dina, all of Berwick. She is also survived by step-son Robert John Salvo and Donna, Harding. There are six grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Lon Ashton VanPelt, and Leigh Ann VanPelt, Houston, TX; Shawn Colin VanPelt, Berwick; Steven VanPelt Chiado, Bloomsburg; Amber Lynn Salvo and Robert John “R.J.” Salvo, Harding. There are eight great grandchildren: Christian Michael, Alexander Matthew, Logan Andrew, Caleb Ashton, and Claire Aine VanPelt, Houston, TX; Mason Lee VanPelt, Berwick; Harvey Denson Chiado and Sylvie Gray Chiado, Bloomsburg.

Marilyn was one of seven children, the only daughter among six sons, growing up on her parents’ farm at R.D. 2 Berwick, now Yost Hollow Rd. Brothers who predeceased her are Robert Clayton, Doyle Eugene, Edward Clair, Maynard Cooper, and Terry Larue Hess. She is survived by her youngest brother Willis Harry Hess, Jr. and his wife Holly, and sister-in-law Anna Downs Hess.

Marilyn and her family are grateful to the Glen Brook and Commonwealth Hospice teams of caregivers and staff for her daily care and in her final months, weeks, days and hours.

A visitation will be held Monday, April 29, 2024, from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the services at 11:00, at the Mayo Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Chestnut Street, Berwick.

Interment will be in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Mayo Funeral Home, Inc., Berwick.

For additional information or to send online condolences, please visit www.mayofh.com.