Marguerite F. Henthorn passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at her home in Rehoboth Beach while under hospice home care. She was born June 5, 1930, to the late beloved George Theodor and Mary Bennett Famy.
Marguerite was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Henry W. and Louis W. Famy; her sister, Janette F. Verbeck; her closest childhood friend, Pat Massaro; and her dear friend, Julie Di Benedetto. She is survived by her three sons, Edward R., Harold A. and Robert T. Henthorn; and her stepsons, Jan K. and Andreas Genemans, their spouses, and their numerous children.
Born and raised on their small family farm in Hawthorne, N.J., Marguerite graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1948. She attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned her associate's degree in accounting. While at university, she met and married decorated WWII U.S. Army Captain Edward T. Henthorn of Rye, N.Y. After graduating from Bradley University in 1950 with a master of science degree in engineering, Mr. Henthorn was deployed to Korea to serve as a pilot. During this deployment, Marguerite worked as a bookkeeper at Lord & Taylor’s flagship store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. At the same time, she worked as a runway model for the leading furrier in New York City.
After the Korean War, Marguerite and her husband relocated to various U.S. Army facilities across the country. She worked in a variety of bookkeeping positions while Mr. Henthorn, now a lieutenant colonel, continued his military career. They also had three sons. In 1963, they settled in Arlington, Va., after Mr. Henthorn retired from active service. During this period, Marguerite focused on raising their children while her husband pursued a career in mechanical engineering as a senior weapons design engineer in the U.S. Army’s Tank Program at the Pentagon. They were both actively involved in their children's education and held several positions at their local church, Saint Peter’s, which the family attended. Marguerite became the first woman ever elected to serve on a church’s vestry in The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. Regrettably, Mr. Henthorn passed away suddenly in 1981 at 56.
With her three sons having graduated from college and pursuing their careers, Marguerite dedicated the next three decades to volunteering in her local community. She worked in the offices at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Hospice of Northern Virginia, and also volunteered at The White House, providing assistance to visitors and leading guided tours of its grounds. In 1989, she and three partners bought land in Dewey Beach and built four homes. She kept one property for herself and began spending weekends on the Eastern Shore.
An avid boater, Marguerite met Albert Genemans, a widower, in 1997 in a boating social group at a Washington, D.C. area yacht club through Parents Without Partners. Two years later, they were wed at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Va. They enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S., cruises, and touring various European countries. Their favorite destination was Bermuda, where they spent their honeymoon and revisited several times later by ship. They were both enthusiasts of the performing arts, particularly symphony orchestras and opera, and often attended live performances in Washington, D.C., and Boston, where one of their sons lived.
As time went by, they started spending more time in Dewey Beach. They both became involved in the local political scene and elections, with Albert serving on several Dewey Beach town committees and writing articles for the local Cape Gazette newspaper. While they enjoyed spending time on the beach during the warm months, Marguerite's mobility declined over time. It became a tradition for them to visit Jungle Jim’s waterpark, where they could often be found floating in innertubes on its Lazy River along with their children and grandchildren. Sadly, Albert passed away in 2019 at 86.
In 2020, Marguerite moved to Delaware permanently. She continued to spend many wonderful times there with her family and cherished her visits with her grandchildren. She never tired of going to Jungle Jim’s, and it remained one of her favorite places until her passing.
A private graveside service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., where Marguerite will be laid to rest.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Marguerite’s name to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963, or by calling 302-856-7717.
