Rita M. Marchese was a longtime resident of the Upper Peninsula, a teacher who enjoyed art, music, the outdoors, and shopping.

She received her education from Bay De Noc Community Collage and Northern Michigan University. She earned a bachelor's degree in education and was hired by Consolidated Community Schools of Newberry, where she worked as an alternative education teacher for 15 years, until her retirement in 2005.

Mrs. Marchese was 50 when she passed away at her home Friday, April 28, 2006.

She was born in Wakefield to Leo and Marjorie Holbrook and lived in Mercer, Wisconsin, until 1963, when she moved to Newberry with her family.

Mrs. Marchese was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Michael. She is survived by her husband,

Curt Brown of Newberry; two children and their families, Joshua Hardy and Jessica Marchese of Arnold, and Dylan Brown of Newberry; three siblings and their families, Norbert of Springstead, Wisconsin, Sharon and Chuck Hilgart of Park Falls, Wisconsin, and Michelle Rodriguez of Stinnett, Texas; her father and mother-in-law, Ron and Betty Brown of Newberry; three sisters-in-law and their families, Cherie and Dewey Wilder of Garnet, Charlotte Mikuska of St. Ignace, and Carolyn Brown of Lake Linden; and her brother-in-law, Clifford Brown of Little Lake.

Services will be held Wednesday, May 3, at 5 p.m. at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry. Pastor John Baker of Living Water Assembly of God will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday, May 3, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.