Marianne Toth

Rochester, NY: Marianne passed away on Monday, April 6th, 2020. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2016, and fought against it, courageously. However, in 2019 the disease quickly began to debilitate her mental and physical state. Marianne’s daughter, Lisa, was her loving caregiver who honored her wishes to help her live comfortably at home, until she passed away peacefully in her sleep, in her own bed.

Marianne was born November 22nd, 1928 in Detroit, MI, of Macedonian parents, Helen and George Gichoff. She had many vivid memories of her childhood growing up with her sister, Florence. During her first month of kindergarten, she recalled that her teacher struck her on her ear and locked her in a dark closet, as punishment for not understanding English. Marianne’s mother, Helen, took her out of school and taught her English at home, in one year. The family moved from Dearborn to 16th Street and she enrolled in school there. She valued her school education, especially her elementary teachers. Her childhood home was close to Tiger Stadium, and on summer nights she could hear The Roar!

As a teenager, Marianne worked at her uncles’ restaurant in Toronto during the summers. Back home, she worked at a soda fountain at Union Station, where she got to meet the great Joe Louis as he returned home from WWII. In her youth, she also worked for the Red Cross, and later volunteered at St. Mary Hospital in Livonia, MI.

In her early twenties, Marianne met and fell in love with Joseph Toth. They were married in 1951 and spent 52 wonderful years together. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She would often visit Rochester, NY for extended periods of time to help care for her two grandchildren, Yasmine and Jahangir, while Lisa finished college in the mid 1990’s. Marianne was Yasmine’s “fairy god mother,” and would play made-up games like “kick the stone” with Jahangir. Her love and support for Lisa knew no bounds. She was Lisa’s BIGGEST fan; she never missed a concert or dance recital, always sitting front and center! After her husband Joseph passed away, she relocated to Rochester to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.

Marianne was a sweet, witty, compassionate, wonderful woman who possessed a kind and gentle soul. If she witnessed any injustice, she would immediately speak out, unafraid. She had a passion for gardening, could name just about any plant she saw, and could take a cutting and bring it back to life. Her beautiful gardens were the envy of every neighborhood she lived in. Marianne was proud of her Macedonian descent and loved spending time with her family in Toronto. She was extremely polite and dignified throughout her life, even in her final days.

A beautiful soul has left us, and we can’t begin to describe the impact this woman had on so many lives. Her dedication to family and her home, her perseverance through difficult times, and her sophisticated style and charm made her one of the strongest, most dignified, and elegant women any of us have ever met. We are comforted in knowing that she is finally at peace with her parents, sister, husband, and her eldest daughter, Jo-Anne. Marianne’s memory will live on with us. As she used to say, “I love you more.”

Marianne is survived by her daughter Lisa, grandson Jahangir and his wife Katie, granddaughter Yasmine, great-grandson Joseph, and many loving cousins and their families. Memories of Marianne will be cherished by her extended family and friends. A graveside service will be held at the family plot in Toronto, Ontario, at a later date. Please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association by visiting ALZ.org, in honor of her brave struggle with the disease.