In Memory of

Marian

Russell

Poneck

Obituary for Marian Russell Poneck

Marion Russell Poneck, 90, of Carversville, Pennsylvania, died at her home on April 3, 2018. Her beloved husband, Philip, was at her side.

Marian was a gifted actress who performed in Broadway plays, films and television. A native of Detroit, Michigan, she was born Marian Magdalene Melandoski, the daughter of the Michael and Mary Anne Melandoski. Marian was raised with two older brothers, Joseph and Arthur, and a younger brother William. Her father’s beautiful singing voice inspired her to pursue a career in the performing arts. At age 15 she joined the Catholic Theater Players in Detroit and went on to perform with the Detroit Civic Light Opera, appearing in such classics as “Show Boat” and “The Student Prince”. Marian continued her studies in Chicago where she performed with the Actors’ Company. While in Chicago she started to make regular appearances on television and radio. She also worked as a model in print advertising and later television. At age 17, she was pleasantly surprised to learn that from a photo taken by a Detroit newspaper photographer, a group of American G.I.‘s stationed in Italy named her their “sweetheart” . During the summer months she traveled the straw hat circuit, performing in regional playhouses. She toured with Tallulah Bankhead, Richard Kiley, Joe Campanella and Jessy Royce Landis.

Marian went on to perform on Broadway where she appeared with Nancy Carroll and Molly Picon in “For Heaven’s Sake, Mother”, with Basil Rathbone in “The Gioconda Smile” and with Walter Matthau in “One Bright Day”. On television she acted on the Philip Morris Playhouse, Colgate Theater, and played opposite Ralph Bellamy in the private eye series “Men Against Crime” on the Dumont Television Network. She was featured in Playhouse 90’s production of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” On radio she could be heard in “The Romance of Helen Trent” and other serials.

In 1962, Marian appeared in the title role of “Celia” opposite Jessie Royce Landis at the Bucks County Playhouse. Marian fell in love with Bucks County and decided to make her home here. She bought an old farmhouse which she lovingly restored and expanded into a beautiful home. It proved to be a perfect setting to raise her children April and Peter and to pursue new interests. She loved gardening, raised sheep and lambs and had their wool made into beautiful blankets. An animal lover, Marian provided shelter for an assortment of cats and dogs. Other residents included a duck named Feathers, Button the ram, Beauty the peacock, Fortune the goat, a flock of domestic white geese and a retired Philadelphia police horse named Cap. Winky, a particular favorite, was a stray border collie Marian came across while performing in summer stock in Watkins Glen, NY. His keen herding skills were key to keeping order on the farm. Marian was a dedicated supporter of the Bucks County SPCA, where she served on the board. Instrumental in launching the SPCA’s collection cans for donations, Marian found an artist to design the cans’ logo. From Bucks County she could easily travel to New York for work. She continued to perform, do voice overs and hand model. She provided the English dialogue for Bridget Bardot in several movies. Marian loved telling stories about life in the theater and the stars she worked with. She commuted to New York with Darrin McGavin, played poker and chess backstage with her fellow actors and stage hands, and treasured her friendships with many theatrical greats including Boris Karloff and Yul Brenner who presented her with a hand carved chess board .

Marian had a great appreciation of the arts and things of beauty. She loved classical music and opera. She played the piano and composed songs, painted in water colors, sketched in charcoals and pastels and wrote two children’s books. Her husband Phil was a staff photographer for the Doylestown Intelligencer, his gift of a camera to Marian gave her a new outlet for her artistic eye. She became a skilled photographer of native life, animals and scenic beauty. With a keen eye for business, she invested in real estate and several business ventures. Marian owned and operated a rare documents shop in Peddlers’ Village. She sought out work at the New York Auction house and framed them beautifully for resale. She loved travel and had special memories of her pilgrimage to Italy with Father Ed O’Neill and St. John the Evangelist Church and her photographic wing safari over Africa.

A devout member of St. John the Evangelist Church in Lambertville, Marian served as a Eucharistic minister bringing communion to the homebound and to residents in long term care facilities.

Marion is survived by her beloved husband Philip A. Poneck; her children April Fernandez of Allentown, and Peter Fernandez of Virginia Beach, VA; her grandchildren Aaron, Mason and Julia Fernandez, Rachel Meekins, Roman and Lexi Bently; her great-grandchildren William Meekins and Cashin Fernandez; her sister-in-law Elinor Malendoski; her niece Susan Savett; her nephews Chris and Patrick Malendoski and John and Rolland Mallard and her extended familay of friends and associates. She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers.

The mass of Christian burial will be offered on Monday, April 16, at 10:30 at St. John the Evangelist Church, 44 Bridge Street, Lambertville, New Jersey 08530. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Czestochowa Cemetery, Doylestown, PA.

There will be calling hours on Sunday, April 15, from 2 to 4 pm and on Monday morning from 9 am until departure for church at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, New Jersey 08530 (vhmfh.com).

Memorial donations may be made to the Bucks County SPCA, PO Box277, Lahaska, PA 18931(bcspca.org) or to EWTN Global Catholic Network, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210 (donations.ewtn.com).