Marianne L. Hooke, age 74, of Slatington, PA, entered into God’s Kingdom on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at Lehigh Center in Macungie, PA.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am, February,25 ,2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 12975 Purcell Road, Manassas, VA 20112.

It all started on January 23, 1947 at Locust Mountain Hospital in Shenandoah, PA. Born Marianne Farr, she began her journey in the Pennsylvania coal town of Mahanoy City, PA. Marianne was born to William Samuel Farr, a WWII veteran, coal miner, firefighter, and security guard; And Mary Agnes Bross, a fountain clerk and homemaker.

Her childhood could be described as a normal big sister childhood; roughing up her little sister Trudie, and causing shenanigans around town. Obviously a daddy’s girl, her father was constantly moving to get her out of trouble before her mother would find the broken windows, broken knick-knacks, and find out about the ill-advised car trips, with boys, in snow storms. She could often be found with her best friend Betty Humes (Stefanov) at high school football games or down the street at Betty’s house. Marianne enjoyed Friday and Saturday nights at Willow Lake with her crew, listening to the local Jordan Brothers Band.

After graduating from Mahanoy City High School in 1965, Marianne married her former spouse, Charles Hooke, in Mahanoy City, PA on November 30, 1968. It was at that point that she became a loyal and proud military spouse of the US Navy and US Coast Guard. Their travels included residencies in Virginia, California, New York, and Hawaii. Their adopted son, Michael Hooke, was born in August of 1975.

Her career began later in life. Drawn from the experience of motherhood, Marianne started her education at Lehigh Carbon Community College to become an early childhood care provider at Visions Child Care Center in Schnecksville, PA. Of course, for her, she didn’t consider this work – she enjoyed it way too much. “Miss Marianne” spent six years reading to toddlers, helping in the breakfast room, giving out lots of hugs and kisses, and “catching every cold and virus in God’s creation” before fully retiring in 2008.

Family time was her favorite time. After-dinner discussions about loved ones past and present, old childhood stories, along with politics, football and food recipes were among her frequent subjects. With raised voices and heightened laughter, we never missed a chance to debate the fact that her chicken pot pie recipe was actually chicken and dumplings (she had those two things confused - there was also confusion about how much cayenne pepper is too much).

Marianne certainly loved football, with a fanatical obsession with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Always the troublemaker in the family, she bucked the rest of the family’s love for the Philadelphia Eagles in favor of the Black & Gold. Marianne can still be heard yelling at the television after a hard-earned touchdown or a bad pass interference call. Her love for football transcended the Steelers – she would talk for hours about the latest head coach on the hot seat or which collegiate player would be drafted first. Penn State Football ruled the roost from 1947 to 1993 – then she became the LSU Tigers’ biggest fan when her son headed down south to study music.

If there was one thing or person that could compete with the Steelers, he would be Elvis Presley. Her stories, memories, and crush on this man were adorable. Marianne was an eclectic music lover. She could listen and enjoy just about any genre of music, including her favorite modern artist, “Bulldog” (Pitbull). Her other favorites included the Beach Boys, George Strait, Garth Brooks, and Frankie Avalon.

She will be most fondly remembered for her sweetness, loyalty and love of family, ability to make fun of herself, and constant mispronunciations of names, grocery stores, cities and towns, and Cajun food. She will be missed.

She is survived by her son Michael & Layla Hooke; her honorary daughter Shawna Hooke; her granddaughter Kaley Hooke; her sister, Trudie & Walter Remaley; and her nephew Michael Remaley.