Marcine Elarton Pensiero

Marcine Elarton Pensiero was born on a farm in Risingsun, Ohio to Duane and Loma (Bowe) Elarton. She was graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She met her husband, the late Donald A. Pensiero, M.D. while she was earning her Bachelor of Nursing at The Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing; he was taking pre-med classes at Adelbert College, Western Reserve University.

Following her graduation, she was a staff nurse at University Hospitals of Cleveland and The Benjamin Rose Hospital, one of the first elder-specific rehabilitation hospitals in the country. She joined The Ohio State University School of Nursing as an instructor in Nursing Arts and chaired a successful “Career Day” to recruit high school students into nursing. She was also tapped to organize the first “Refresher Course” for inactive graduate nurses who wanted to return to nursing. After her husband’s graduation from medical school, they moved back to Cleveland where she worked at University Hospitals as the Instructor of Nursing Procedures. She developed a standard procedure program and continued to develop her Refresher Course for graduate nurses.

When Marcine’s children were born, her life shifted to family. She volunteered at Orange Schools as a PTA board member and school nurse. She was a member of Living Room Learning book groups and attended art classes. Her appreciation of the older person was fulfilled when in 1984 she received a Master of Nursing degree in Gerontological Nursing from Case Western Reserve University. Her thesis, “Nursing Home Residents’ Dress and Self-Esteem” was published in The Journal of Gerontological Nursing.

She was a Renaissance woman. Gardening, growing orchids, photography, art classes, and playing the piano were the respites that satisfied her creativity and gave her peace. But it was the life shared with her husband, family, and friends that sustained her happiness and joy of living. After the death of her beloved husband of 58 years, she found comfort in the ministries of Fairmount Presbyterian Church: a bereavement group and the women’s group, Sisters of Sisterhood, and a Hospice of the Western Reserve bereavement group. She is survived by her daughters: Susan, Lisa (Mark), Carole, and grandson, Maxwell Taylor. She is predeceased by her husband, Donald, and twin sister Marcie Gschwind.

The family is grateful to Rev. Dr. Sandy Seaton-Todd (Church of the Western Reserve) and the nurses at BrightStar Care for the consistent support and comfort offered during this time.

For those wanting to pay their respects at the Church of the Western Reserve, 30500 Fairmount Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44124, the viewing will take place Monday, May 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., funeral service at 11:00 a.m., with burial immediately after.

Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of the Western Reserve or the Marcine Elarton & Donald A. Pensiero, M.D. Family Fund for MSN Students at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.