It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Marianne Vanaria Seilheimer who left us peacefully on February 19, 2025, surrounded by her loving husband Tom and her children Jessica and Jeremy.
    Marianne was born in Mount Kisco, New York, on March 5, 1950, the first child of Louis and Marianne (Ficalora) Vanaria. Her family moved to Cortland, NY, in 1957 when her dad accepted a teaching position at SUNY Cortland. Marianne attended the Campus School and graduated from Cortland High School in 1967. She attended college at SUNY Brockport and Cortland.
    Marianne enjoyed a wonderful, creative, and successful career as an interior designer. She was President of the W. Berman Decorating Marketplace in East Brunswick, NJ, where she was well known for her residential and commercial decorating and design work. Later in her career, she created her own company, Marianne V. Interior Designs. Marianne was a great listener and brought a personal touch in helping her clients transform their homes.
    Marianne met her husband, Tom, in the summer of 1968 in Cortland, NY. They were engaged in the fall of 1968, married on August 23, 1969, and celebrated over 55 wonderful years together— it was an unconditional Springsteen-esque love story.
    Marianne and Tom had 2 children, Jessica Elise (51) and Jeremy Evan (48), and she was so proud of both of them and their accomplishments. Marianne and Tom spent most of their lives in North Brunswick, NJ. They shared a love for the NJ shore and enjoyed a 2nd residence and summer vacations there for many years, before relocating to Magnolia, Delaware, in 2012— a highlight of her life where she enjoyed every minute with her granddaughter Morgan Kelly and grandson Shawn Talley. Marianne and Tom also enjoyed traveling to the Caribbean, a cruise of the Adriatic Sea, and a trip to Italy in 2017, which included a visit to the Sicilian village of Bagheria, where her maternal grandmother emigrated from. Marianne infused her Italian heritage and love of beauty and culture into everything she touched especially food, cooking and hosting many memorable Christmases with her extended family in NJ. She also loved designing the construction of their home in Delaware, which her community developer eventually offered as a new model design. Marianne knew how to turn a house into a home and brought a personal warmth to every fabric, paint color, and pattern she decorated her own homes with.
    Marianne is survived by her husband Thomas (77), daughter Jessica, son Jeremy (Stacey), two grandchildren, Morgan Kelly (12) and Shawn Talley (8) who will remember her fondly as Gram, and three sisters: Linda Melazzo, Diane Vanaria, Kathy Baker (Robert); all of Chicago and her nieces Callie Baker and Liza Devine.
    Marianne will be deeply missed and fondly remembered for sharing her creative gifts, warmth, and generosity that will live on through her family, friends, and community.
    In accordance with Marianne’s wishes, there will be no formal service or funeral. Instead, the family will honor and celebrate her life later this summer, her favorite season. We invite those who loved her to hold her memory close and celebrate her life in their own special way. Life End Services by Michael J Ambruso Funeral Director, Inc., Dover, DE. Condolences may be made on www.ambruso.com