Marjory Elizabeth Drennan (nee Thomas) was born in Yonkers, New York, to William and Ann Thomas in January 1956. She attended Tuckahoe High School before leaving her beloved New York for the midlands of St. Louis, Missouri, where she attended St. Louis University. She cried the first month she was here but came around.
I met Marje in 1974. She was the captain of the women’s bowling team. I was the captain of the men’s team. We dated and became inseparable. She earned her nursing degree and went on to work at Mass General in Boston while I attended Boston College. I proposed at the Old Union Oyster House. We moved back to St. Louis in 1980 and got married.
Marje worked as a nurse in multiple locations over the years. The eighties were our Decade of Children. Marje had five wonderful kids: Amanda (Rick) Reiter, Kathleen (Scott) Nickell, Meredith (Tom) Karolyshyn, Tommy, and Sabrina (Adam) Wiedenhoffer. And they, in turn, delivered four beautiful grandchildren: Chloe Nickell, Patrick, Decklyn Wiedenhoffer, and Brielle Wiedenhoffer.
Our five children were everything to Marje, and she was everything to them. She worked hard to be active in their lives, to give them a good education, and to ensure they succeeded in being the beautiful people they are today.
Everyone loved Marje. She was a great conversationalist and knew exactly what to say to make strangers and friends alike feel warm and welcome. She spoke her mind. She laughed. She loved.
She retired from nursing five years ago and filled her life with travel, her beloved children, and her beautiful grandchildren. She always wanted a front porch and, with the help of family, she designed a beautiful one. She so enjoyed sitting on her veranda and making room for friends and relatives over a glass of wine and lively conversation. Over the last few years, she developed a taste for writing and created a lovely, warm, six-book cozy mystery series about Bonnie Alcott and her second act in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.
Marje made a home for us all in her heart. And we loved her so very dearly. At the time of her sudden passing (Saturday, May 30, 2026), she had plans to travel and had bought gifts for the children and presents for the grandchildren. And she was writing, and she was enjoying every minute of her life. And…
I cannot tell you how much I loved this beautiful, wonderful woman. She was so loved by everyone, but especially by me. I love you, Marje, and I will miss you forever.
Tom Drennan, devoted husband for 45 of the best years a man can hope for.
SERVICES: A Memorial Visitation for Marje will be held at Kutis Funeral Home in Affton, 10151 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO 63123, on Thursday, June 4th, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to contribute (in no particular order) to one of Marje’s favorite charities:
- Little Free Libraries at http://give.littlefreelibrary.org
- Open Door Animal Sanctuary at http://odas.org/donate