Dec. 24, 1952 - May 12, 2008
Marsha Darlene (Young) Mazza,
age 55, went home to be with God on May 12, 2008 at her home in Chesapeake City,
surrounded by loved ones. She died following a four-year battle against cancer
which she had waged valiantly.
Marsha was co-founder of Meeting Ground, a sanctuary and community for homeless
persons and families in Cecil County, MD which she founded with Carl in 1981.
She worked particularly with women and children as the Director of Wayfarers’
House in Elkton. In that community she was a friend to countless persons over
the decades: counseling, supporting, and encouraging them through troubles and
difficulties in their road to a new life for themselves and their children. She
is greatly loved by so many who knew her through that ministry. She was a loving
wife and mother, and one-of-a-kind friend. She is deeply missed by all, and will
never be forgotten.
Over two decades, she was mentor, mother, sister, and friend to countless
hundreds who came to the door seeking help. Marsha set the standard for us all
by offering needed assistance with a warm smile, welcoming words of support and
encouragement, and a sincere and heartfelt caring. Her heart was for all women
and their children who are experiencing the fear, isolation, and loneliness of
being homeless. For these she offered the gift of her complete heart and soul.
So reads the formal obituary. I want so much to write a story of Marsha’s
tribute, but I am still not able to do it. We worked together as partners in
ministry with Meeting Ground for a quarter century. Few are around to remember
the early days, as only Marsha did. The most beautiful part of it was that we
worked better and more closely together as the years progressed, a legacy of
love’s depth for which we were both mightily grateful to God. I will say more in
a time in the near future, when my mind is more still and my heart can rest
easier in the task. For now, the tribute we bring is in some of the many notes
and letters received in Marsha’s memory:
The sad news of Marsha’s death has stopped me in my tracks. I am so glad that I
heard it from you instead of reading about it in some newsletter. I hope you
don’t mind if I share some thoughts and maybe a few tears with you...knowing
that you know...
I have been sitting here for a long time...taking it in...thinking about those
days we spent together. My God, there were so many special, life changing
moments...not just for me and you but for everyone who dared to pull up a chair
and be part of that community. It didn’t really matter how long you were around,
you knew you were in the presence of something so much bigger than any words
could describe, ya know? The Spirit blessed it from the beginning...
I know in my heart that Marsha was the rock on which Meeting Ground, many of its
programs and other homes were built. She simply exuded faith, courage and
strength... and showed the way for so many other folks, particularly women, to
tap into their own. I can only imagine all the lives she has touched over the
years... and have wished many times over that I could have done what she and
Carl dared to do.
As I think of her now, I see her standing in the back of a crowded room, not
needing to be on center stage. She's giggling and whispering to someone while
the program is going on...but she is not missing a thing. Even though I know the
work was hard and more sacrificial than I could even imagine, I think she found
joy...even in the most difficult of circumstances.
I got so wrapped up into my own world while I was there... As I left, I knew I
had missed out on really getting to know someone very special. However, I am
grateful to God and the friendly universe because Marsha Mazza was a blessing to
me...even at a distance. - DB
I only met Marsha a few times as I had done some volunteer work for Wayfarers’
House. In the few times I met Marsha, we has some meaningful conversations, and
Marsha extended such warmth and compassion to me as I shared some of my life
with her, as I was experiencing trials. I will never forget her caring and
compassion and dedication to helping women in need. My thoughts and prayers for
God’s peace to be with you during this difficult time.
- JMR
Marsha was a phenomenon, a one-of-a-kind woman who will be missed tremendously
by everyone whose heart she touched during her years upon years of sacrifice and
devotion. I hope that you will all take some measure of comfort in the
remembrance of that comfort she brought to everyone around her. The houses that
you built together will continue to bring love and healing to those who need it
the most, and those that found refuge in them will carry Marsha’s memory with
them for ever.
- RJ and KO
The worship service last Saturday for Marsha was a testimony to the impact that
her life and yours have made on so many others. We join the whole community in
mourning with you, but also rejoicing in God’s gift of her life.
- SH
My wife and I were deeply saddened at learning of Marsha’s death. You all have
our prayers and deepest sympathy. Marsha was indeed a special person and all of
us at Nazareth College are grateful to God for all the compassion she taught us
for the unfortunate and homeless!
May God grant you all comfort and hope. We continue to pray for all with deep
gratitude for her life and example.
- LA
I am so sorry to hear of your loss of Marsha. Although I did not know her well,
as she sat and talked and worked with our group, it was so clear that Christ
shined brightly in her. All at Meeting Ground are in my thoughts and prayers –
may you all continue to find strength, hope and love in this difficult time.- SK
I want you to know that I have learned a lot from her example and am a better
person because of my relationship with her. It has been my privilege to have the
good fortune to be with Marsha these past nine or ten years and I will miss her
beyond words.
What a great loss it is for all of us. Marsha is a one of a kind person. She did
her own thing and I think implemented your and her dreams for those who had no
place to go. Meeting Ground is a safe haven for all who come. Marsha showed
strength, love, acceptance, understanding, patience, wisdom, and forgiveness to
all who she met including the volunteers.
She was always thinking of others and their needs and did not worry about
herself. No job was too little or too big for her to do from the herbs to
cleaning out the basement. When she was in pain she thought of others and
worried about them disregarding her own needs. I saw this on many occasions. Her
love was always there and she was genuinely happy to see and help everyone
including the volunteers.
It has been a great honor to have known her and to be with her. I will miss her
and I will try to be as understanding, loving, caring as she has taught me by
example and not by words.
- MY
There are no words to express our sadness in hearing of Marsha's death. She was
a one of a kind friend. A person who deeply cared for people and went out of her
way to help. She was fun, loyal and knew how help you share your deepest
thoughts. She came to me at a time when I was all mixed up and she was my friend
and loved me where I was. That was her special gift. Even though we hadn't seen
each other for years the memories of her are very special to both B---- and me.
- B and LW
Marsha has been such a great woman and although she was sick she never stopped
the fight. Can you imagine how impressive that is for a 19-year-old? Well, I
can, and I know there are only a handful of women like her on the planet. You
know, I didn’t get to know her very well although I was volunteering at
Wayfarers’ House often. But I always loved working with her.
“The death of a beloved human being is the return of a treasure that God has
only lent us.” - FS
“Heaven Help Us All”
A Song by Stevie Wonder
(Marsha loved this song, and shared it often with the community)
Heaven help the child who never had a home,
Heaven help the girl who walks the street alone
Heaven help the roses if the bombs begin to fall,
Heaven help us all.
Heaven help the black man if he struggles one more day,
Heaven help the white man if he turns his back away,
Heaven help the man who kicks the man who has to crawl,
Heaven help us all.
Heaven help us all, heaven help us all, help us all.
Heaven help us, Lord, hear our call when we call
Oh, yeah!
Heaven help the boy who won’t reach twenty-one,
Heaven help the man who gave that boy a gun.
Heaven help the people with their backs against the wall,
Lord, Heaven help us all.
Heaven help us all, heaven help us all,
heaven help us all, help us all.
Heaven help us, Lord, hear our call when we call.
Now I lay me down before I go to sleep.
In a troubled world, I pray the Lord to keep,
keep hatred from the mighty,
And the mighty from the small,
Heaven help us all.
Oh, oh, oh, yeah!