Beatrice J. Marz of Guilford passed peacefully away at sunset May 24 at The Connecticut Hospice at age 93 1/2. She was the wife of the late Emil Marz, who passed away in August 2015. Beatrice was born Jan. 3, 1923, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, daughter of John Jackson and Stella Murray.

Beatrice celebrated 71 years of marriage in June 2015, having married Emil in 1944 while he was in the Navy. She had been a Guilford resident since 2005; prior to that she resided on Long Island, New York. Living near the Guilford Green, Beatrice loved to walk to many places, her favorite being the Guilford Free Library, where she became a well-known member. She was an avid reader and loved words. She was the co-author of the book A Play on Words about etymology and vocabulary.

Beatrice was also known for her love of singing, equally matched by her political activism. She was a member of The Women’s Strike for Peace, protesting the wars in Viet Nam, Iraq, and El Salvador, and also supported the Guilford Peace Alliance on the Green. She stood up for animal rights, the poor, and the downtrodden minority. She was also classified as a “health nut,” growing her own garden and advocating organic foods, with her claim to fame being that she never cooked a TV dinner in her life. She never took pharmaceuticals right up to her passing.

Beatrice is survived by her daughter Laurie Renda (William), her son Russell Marz, six grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her eldest daughter Ellen Carlin and Ken (husband).

A visitation will be held at the Guilford Funeral Home, Guilford, on June 4 between the hours of 12 and 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Shoreline Village Connecticut (SVCT), 1204 Main St., #128, Branford, CT 06405, or online at www.shorelinevillagect.org/contact-us/. SVCT provided visiting volunteers who weekly spent quality time with Beatrice for which we are very thankful. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com.