Judith Marcella

Judith “Judy” Anne (Ferraro) Marcella passed away on September 27, 2024 at Holy Spirit Hospital, in Camp Hill, after a long illness.

 Judy was born on June 24, 1942 to Carmen Ferraro and Anne Ferraro (Leies) in Chicago, Illinois. Judy was the oldest of 8 children.

 Judy’s love for music and singing started at an early age. She joined the church choir in grade school, at St. Benedict’s in Buffalo, New York. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Buffalo and spent a year at the University of Puerto Rico, went on to graduate from Rosary Hill College in Buffalo with an undergraduate degree in Spanish and received a master’s degree from Syracuse University.

 Judy met Gabriel, the love of her life, in Ecuador in 1965, where both were Fulbright Scholars at the University of Ecuador in Quito. That began a lifelong love affair with Latin American culture. She also loved her Italian heritage and opera music. In fact, she spent many of her final hours listening to the music she adored with loved ones. 

 Judy and her husband Gabriel married in 1967, and went on to have four children. Their greatest adventure together was living in Panama during a time of crisis between the United States and Panama.

 Judy taught Spanish at Dickinson College and Messiah College. She was a member of the choir at St. Patrick Church, Carlisle for many years, where she also served as a volunteer with the Arimatheans. Judy and her husband Gabriel sponsored 11 International Fellows and their families who attended the United States Army War College. 

 Judy was an avid reader of historical fiction and mystery, an excellent writer, a fantastic seamstress who often made elaborate costumes for her children and grandchildren, and loved to sing. She enjoyed cooking Italian food for her large family and making exotic multi-cultural dishes to try out new recipes. She was a member of a gourmet club, and once hosted a medieval dinner party at her home. In her later years she enjoyed swimming with her grandchildren, teaching them Spanish, and quilting. 

 Judy is survived by her husband of 57 years, Gabriel, and children: Maria Pilar Marcella (Steve) of Mechanicsburg, Sandra Marcella (Sam) of Carlisle, Anna Marcella of Carlisle, and Philip (Deana) of Lafayette Hills, grandchildren: Louis, Andrew, Michael, Dominic, and Josephine, her brothers: Charles and Rick of California, and Francis of Colorado, and sisters: Geraldine of New York, Donna of Florida, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved sister Valerie, and beloved brother Vincent.

 A viewing will be held Monday, October 7 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm at Hoffman Funeral & Cremation, 2020 W. Trindle Road, Carlisle. Her funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, October 8, at St. Patrick Church, 87 Marsh Drive, Carlisle, followed by a luncheon in the parish hall and interment at St. Patrick New Cemetery on McClure's Gap Road.

 Donations can be made in Judy’s name to the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, https://www.sacredheartacademy.org/apps/pages/donate