Obituary: Marion Eastman, 99, Formerly Of Danbury

DANBURY, CT — Marion Eastman, formerly of Danbury, wife of the late Robert M. Eastman, died on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Marion was in her 100th year and, according to her wishes, died peacefully at home in Alhambra, CA with her sister Pat and niece Monica at her side. Marion was born in Danbury on Nov. 6, 1923 daughter of the late Matthew and Elizabeth (Birch) Lesko.

She was a graduate of Danbury High School, Class of 1941. Upon graduation, he was employed as a telephone operator at Southern New England Telephone Company until 1944.

In 1944, Marion volunteered for service in the United States Navy WAVES, proudly serving in the Fleet Post Office in San Francisco during World War II.

Upon her discharge in 1945 she and James Casperson were married and moved to St. Louis, MO. In late 1946, James died when the plane he was piloting filled with automobile parts crashed in bad weather. Marion returned to San Francisco, CA and began her college career while working full time.

She received her AA in general science degree from the University of California-Berkley in 1948, her BA in education from Cal State Los Angeles in 1962 and her Master of Library Science from University of California-Los Angeles in 1968. She began working at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC from 1968 until 1974, again returning to California when marrying Robert Eastman.

In 2015 Marion’s sister Pat moved to Alhambra, CA to live with Marion as companion and later caregiver. Marion proceeded to "introduce" to Pat California’s many historic and beautiful locations. Marion’s words at age 89 were "I want to share these with you while I’m still able." In graciously giving up her driver's license several years later, her words were "This is great, I get to see everything I missed when I was driving."

Marion will be sadly missed by her sister Patricia Linabury, nieces and nephews Monica, Mark and David Linabury, Michael and Diane Roche as well as many great nieces, nephews and cousins. She will also be missed by her dedicated caregivers, Crystal, Fola, Kanthi and Yesenia.

She was predeceased by her sister Elizabeth Roche and her husband John; her brother George Lesko and his wife Zillah; her nieces Joanne Lesko Gindek, Sharon Roche Powers and Carol Roche Fisher; her nephew Peter Linabury and brother-in-law Ogden Linabury.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter Church in Danbury on Monday, Oct. 16 at 9:30 a.m. Internment will follow in St. Peter Cemetery.