Marlene D. Cuykendall

2/5/26

Marlene’s cornerstone in her life was her faith. After the loss of her mother at 3 years old, she was adopted by Dorothy and Ernest Marshall.  She graduated from Weedsport High School as salutatorian. She married Paul Cuykendall and had four children, Betty, Karl, Gordon, and Diana. When her children were young, she and Paul took several camping trips to Canada. Traveling became a passion and they were able to take Paul’s dream trip to Alaska. Then after his death, she was able to take her own dream trip to the Holy Land. Marlene was a well-respected supervisor of Welch Allyn’s Technical Division Repair Department. After Paul’s death, Marlene went on several mission trips, one to Appalachia and another to Honduras.  This began opening her heart to the world’s needs, and she searched for ways to do God’s work. She entered the Reformed Church in American’s volunteer services and was placed at Queens Reformed Church in NYC to serve in “Daybreak”, an afterschool program for children. During this time, she lived with a Haitian woman, Marie Luben, who would become one of her most cherished friends. After her volunteer commitment was completed, she returned home and went back to college to complete her associate’s degree.  Marlene’s life was filled with service and the love of good books and theater. She volunteered her time, skills and efforts to the Red Cross, the Children’s Literacy Foundation, and the Domestic Violence Foundation of Cayuga County. She was a NYS Ombudsman, passionately helping families secure dignified care for their loved ones.

She served the Owasco Rural Cemetery and led them through four significant

improvement projects. All of these were secondary to her faith and service to God.

When her children were young, she was a Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible

School teacher at the Owasco Reformed Church. Later, she was the Sunday School

Superintendent, and served as a Deacan, and an Elder. She also served the Reformed

Church in America’s Montgomery Classis. She was a “Joyful Joey”, which was a group

of Christians dressed as clowns to preach and teach God’s word. She trained through

Steven Ministry and became a preaching Elder. Recognizing how many people in her

community were suffering great losses of loved ones, she researched and trained to

bring “Grief Share” to Owasco and the surrounding community.

Marlene was predeceased by her husband, Paul, and her son, Gordon. She is survived by her three children, Betty (Eugene) DeFazio, Karl (Cindy) Cuykendall, Diana (Richard) O’Brien, a daughter-in-law, Michele Cuykendall; five grandchildren, Melissa Traver (Joe), Ashley O’Brien, Josh Cuykendall (Sabrina), Adam O’Brien (Carrie) and Mark Cuykendall (Mandi); great grandchildren, Joey & Jordyn Traver, Skylar Cuykendall, Jack and Ellie O’Brien, Luke and Cameron Turner, Mya and Alana Cuykendall and Gavin, Annie and Ozzy. She is also survived by her brothers, Ernest (Bud) Marshall, Gary Cooper, sisters Barbara Fletcher and Nadia Klock.  

In lieu of flowers, donations in Marlene’s memory can be made to the Owasco Reformed Church or the Owasco Rural Cemetery Association.  

Calling hours will be held on Friday, February 13, 2026, at 4-6 pm at the Owasco Reformed Church and funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the Owasco Reformed Church at 10:45 am.  Burial will be held in the spring at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are being handled by Robert Gray Funeral Home in Skaneateles.

To leave condolences please visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.