I am not immortal. If I do not tell someone today that I love them I may never get the chance. Not only to Love But to be told that I'm Loved The realm of silence lies long enough beyond the grave. . Marguerite Livrone Brosing was born on April 18, 1928 in Leechburg, Pennsylvania, the fourth child of Italian immigrants (Pasquale Livrone and Martina Antonio). She was the baby of the family, and in fact the youngest of all eleven cousins. Her mother died when she was four and for a few years her family was scattered among relatives. Marguerite lived nearby with an aunt and uncle. When she was six, she and her brother, sisters and father were reunited "on the homestead." After high school she worked as a telephone operator and an accountant in the local bank. This was the first time an Italian had worked at the bank and was seen by the Italian community as a significant breakdown of the barriers they faced. She learned to fly small airplanes during WWII while in the Civil Air Patrol and had fond memories of those adventures, including a crash landing! She left home and went to work in Cleveland, and later moved to Colorado and California. She married Karl Brosing and raised four children, living most of that time near La Honda, California. Their home was often the center for large gatherings full of music, food and laughter. She was known as the "Earth Mother" and often helped many friends through difficult periods in their lives. There was always room at the table for one (or five) more people. She was well known for her wonderful meals and her laughter. She was very active in the local schools and in environmental and political organizations. She eventually turned her love of numbers into a tax preparation business. She also worked for HR Block, both doing taxes and teaching courses. She worked for Jim Warren when he was first starting up the Computer Faire, her title was 'sanity maintenance," she kept the place running. In 1981 they sold the La Honda house and took off sailing to Mexico on a 37 foot sailboat. They lived aboard the boat in La Paz, in Baja California. In 1983 they had an amicable divorce and Marguerite moved into an apartment (The Pad). She had open houses every Sunday where people would come to meet each other, party, eat, drink, exchange books in her lending library and generally enjoy themselves. Her call sign on the radio was "Venus." She had an affection for the planet and each night would toast Venus when it first appeared in the night sky. She loved opera and would have "opera nights" every Monday where people would gather to watch opera videos at her house (except during football season, when they would watch Monday night football). She was regarded as an ace at Cribbage and Scrabble and played frequently with many of her friends. |
She lived in Mexico for more than 20 years, speaking excellent Spanish (with an Italian accent, Mexicans rarely identified her as an American) and integrating into the Mexican as well as the boating community. She was very active in the local 'yacht' club (Club Cruceros), serving as Commodore (president of the club) more than once, as well as several other offices. She helped start a spin off from the club (Children of La Paz), the purpose of there was never anyone she couldn't work with. She traveled when she could, coming up to the States most years, visiting family and friends. Some of her more memorable adventures were exploring the cave paintings in Baja and the Copper Canyon in mainland Mexico, and trips to both Australia and Fiji. She loved it when people would come to visit her in La Paz, for she loved living there and enjoyed sharing it with everyone. She developed her spiritual side extensively, and learned about many different ways of knowing. She meditated and did yoga and Tai Chi regularly. She studied the Kabala and learned to read Tarot cards, painting her own set as a part of her studies. She also learned acupressure and massage and was always generous with her healing touch and heart. In her last few years in Mexico she and Wally Burr became sweethearts. They each maintained their own place of residence but spent many days and nights together. They often traveled to the states together to visit each other's families. She often said she felt nourished in the relationship and that she was so surprised when it happened, because she wasn't looking to find love again. Her life was full of passion; passion for life, passion for people. She never complained, and many people remember her bright smile and twinkling eyes. She died suddenly on May 25, 2004 at the age of 76.
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