Tabor Marsh (nee Hood)

Nov 5, 1944 - Mar 7, 2026

Tabor Dunning Marsh was born on November 5, 1944, to Mifflin and Nancy Hood. She grew up in the home her grandfather built in Lansdowne, PA. Growing up, she enjoyed field hockey, tennis and a love of reading that would stay with her throughout her life. 

Tabor was nothing in this life if not a teacher. In 1975, while parenting four children, Tabor earned her bachelor’s degree from West Chester State College, earning her teaching certificate soon after. She later went on to earn her master’s in education from Nazareth College. Tabor spent her career dedicated to educating children, with a focus on children with special needs, beginning with her first position at the Stratford Friends School. Tabor was the kind of teacher who would spend her summers and vacations creating new lesson plans and host an end of the year class picnic on the 50-acre farm she enjoyed with her husband, Dana Gibson Marsh. Every holiday season she would ask Dana to dress up like Santa for her kids, and she made sure that the children in her classroom with little never went without. 

Upon retiring from classroom teaching, she promptly started working as a Librarian, which she did for many years. Her truly empathetic nature came out in this community forward position and more than once she found herself embroiled in rescue missions trying to assist the neediest of the neighborhood. People felt safe with her and sought her counsel. Tabor volunteered at an adult literacy program and was civic minded. Tabor’s home was filled with books, and she was always reading when she wasn’t watching the Buffalo Bills. She looked forward to attending the Chautauqua Institution every summer and was a life-long learner. 

In and out of the classroom, Tabor was patient and kind down to the bone, in anger she involuntarily laughed. Tabor deeply valued her friends, and treasured her circles of women deeply, like her Moon River Mamas. Tabor was a mom and stepmom to eight children and extended herself to every one of us, demonstrating through her actions the meaning of family. She was community minded, hosting block parties and sending us kids out to deliver peanut butter brittle to neighbors around the holidays.

Tabor curated the most wonderful and perfect holidays - all of them, from green everything on St Patrick’s to Valentines cards from celebrities and historical figures to Thanksgiving and Christmas’ that smelled like home and made you believe that all was well, could be well. Tabor liked to take the long way home, literally. She delighted in exploring the road less traveled and this was especially true when the Christmas lights were out. 

Tabor weathered life’s storms with grace and perfect etiquette. She was always “ready for the queen” in her demeanor and attempted to impart that on her children (with varying degrees of success). Tabor would say that getting married is an outward sign of an inner commitment, and she reveled in life’s milestones. Family life was important to her. She was ever present, knitting blankets for her many grandchildren, or helping someone or other pick up the pieces when life didn’t go as planned. When she and Dana built a three-season home in the 1000 Islands region of NY, on a cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River, one of Tabor’s dreams was fulfilled- a place for family and friends to gather, creating memories and simply sharing time together.

In later years, while living with Alzheimer’s, Tabor changed in many ways. She could be brutally honest and developed a mischievous sense of humor. She formed deep relationships with the cats, e specially her Fluffy. She continued to love children, enjoying visits from grandchildren. Her last big smile was to a baby, her hand reaching up toward her, eyes focused, cooing, “HI". Dana picked up the many household responsibilities she had juggled with grace all these years and became her caregiver as well. He showed her an unwavering dedication. Tabor never stopped recognizing him. They loved each other deeply until he passed in February of 2025, having spent 43 years together.

Tabor transitioned to living with her son Bryn Kwiatkowski, and his now wife, Jessica Kwiatkowski, who retired as a nurse to provide her full-time care. Throughout her dementia, Tabor never stopped teaching. It was impossible to be a caregiver, to be involved in her life and not learn something about yourself while watching her hold on to the core of herself… the grace, the kindness, the humor. In these years we were privileged to have her, and it feels too soon to say goodbye. As was her hope, she passed away in the comfort of her home surrounded by people who loved her and her beloved cat.

Tabor is predeceased in death by her parents Nancy Fowler Hood and Ronald Mifflin Hood, son Ronald Henry Kwiatkowski, and husband Dana Gibson Marsh. She is survived by her two siblings Faith Waters and Ronald Mifflin Hood. Tabor is survived by her children (and their families): Richard Kwiatkowski/Lori Kwiatkowski; Carol Kwiatkowski/Paul Larmer (grandchildren Natasha Eckert, Harper Eckert); Kristen Tabor (grandchildren Victoria Mikolajczyk/Lexi Mikolajczyk, Jocelyn Mikolajczyk); and Bryn Kwiatkowski/Jessica Kwiatkowski (grandchild Heather Kwiatkowski, great-grandchildren Luci Mielcarek and Eli Mielcarek; grandchild Bryn Tyler Kwiatkowski, great-grandchildren Wyatt Kwiatkowski, David Kwiatkowski, Addison Kwiatkowski; grandchild Elliot Kwiatkowski; grandchild Lilah Kwiatkowski; grandchildren Jacob Schojan, Logan Schojan and Reagan Schojan). Tabor is survived by her four stepchildren (and their families): Carrie Marsh (grandchild Renata McAllister/Ruben McAllister, great-grandchildren Saoirse McAllister and Lachlan McAllister; grandchild Whitney Messier, great-grandchild Jake Messier; grandchild Valerie Hockett); Bryant Marsh/Janice Marsh (grandchildren Cameron Marsh and Madysen Marsh); Heather Marsh; Euphemia “Effie” Molina Periche/Miguel Periche Escalona (grandchildren Xochitl Calero, Mia Rosa Periche Salvage and Hugo Andres Periche Salvage).  To share a special memory please visit www.fingerlakescremationllc.com.