Marybeth Cenci OBITUARY Marybeth Cenci, 89, of Newington, widow of Peter A. Cenci, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, September 30th, 2024, with her loving daughter, Liz, by her side. Born June 9th, 1935, in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late Edward Balf and Helen (Mayberry) McGurk.
Marybeth received her bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego and at the age of 55, received her master’s degree from St. Joseph College in West Hartford. Prior to retiring, Marybeth was a Teacher at the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford for 35 years.
She also volunteered in the gift shop at Cedarcrest in Newington. She and her husband, Peter, were very active and devout communicants at St. Mary Church in Newington where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, was a bereavement counselor and volunteered in the church office.
She hosted small Christian gatherings at her home once a week for many years. Following the passing of her beloved daughter, Meg, in 1978 at the age of 8 from childhood Leukemia, Marybeth became very involved with the Leukemia Society and hosted charity fashion shows to raise awareness for the foundation. Marybeth is survived by her daughter, Mary Elizabeth Cenci-O’Brien and her husband Sean of Williston, VT, her brother, Brian L.
McGurk and his partner Jodie Straight of Hartford, her sister-in-law, Mary B. Donaldson and her husband Barry of Goshen, her brother-in-law, Paul Cenci and his wife Helen of Virginia, her sister-in-law, M.