Obituary of Rev. Helen "Bunny" Adeline Goff Marcussen

Helen "Bunny" Goff Marcussen, retired Ordained Minister at First United Methodist Church in Slidell, LA, passed away at the age of 91, Saturday, December 27th, 2014 in Colorado Springs, CO. She was born in Syracuse, NY, the daughter of the late Mortimer Goff and C. Lara Van Auken. She graduated from Hope College with a degree in psychology. Then she continued her education with a Masters in Education from McNeese State, a Masters of Christian Education from Emory University and finally a Masters of Theology from Southern Methodist University. She was the first woman to hold the position of Ordained Minister of a large congregation in Slidell. She served as a psychiatric social worker, an advisor for the Young Women's Christian Association, an English teacher and a high school counselor. She also served as chaplain at Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital. She remarried late in life (near 60) to her beloved Charley "Chuck" Marcussen, Sr. They were married for nearly 30 years before he preceded her in death in 2012. They spent many years at their beloved home on Middlebrook Dr. on Bonfouca Bayou where she tried to tame every animal that came up off the bayou. She had a "pet" alligator named Ollie; fed and named a Great White Heron, several turtles and even alligator gars. Her special pets were a dachshund named Cassie and then Axel, a Jack Russell terrier. She enjoyed Charley's passion for boating, the water and traveling. They both loved to cook and often argued over who was preparing what at family gatherings. At Charley's passing she moved to Colorado to be near her son and grandchildren. She is survived by her son, Charles A. "Cappy" Ploegsma (Patricia McIntosh); Step-son, Charley Marcussen Jr (Jackie Dabdoub). Grandmother of Angela Roy Jenson (Jake Jenson, Christopher Alan Ploegsma, Celeste Marcussen Hart (Craig Hart) and great-grandmother to Maya Thompson, Credence Ploegsma, Purity Ploegsma, Alexis Hart, Will Hart, and Beau Hart. Grandson, Damon Marcussen preceded her in death. At the age of 91, she outlived all her siblings, Charles Goff, Laura Goff, Harold Goff and Edith Goff all of New York and Connecticut. A Memorial Service will be held at First United Methodist Church, 433 Erlanger Drive, in Slidell on Monday, January 12th, at 10:00 a.m. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service as well as at a reception immediately following the service. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Gentiva Hospice Foundation at gentivahospicefoundation.org, or the Alzheimer's Association or St. Tammany Humane Society in Slidell. Her cremated remains will be interred alongside Charley at the new Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 34888 Grantham College Road, Slidell, LA.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Monday, January 12, 2015 12:00AM First United Methodist Church 420 North Nevada Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone: 719-884-2500