Marsha Pancsofar

Marsha Pancsofar, 1949-2025

Marsha Lynn Pancsofar passed away peacefully at her home in Columbia, CT on March 22, 2025. Marsha was born in Murphysboro, Illinois as the oldest of five children (Kathie Grob, Edgar Brantley, Barbara Troutman, Thomas Brantley) of Helen and Clifford Brantley. She followed her love of learning to complete her Bachelor’s degree at Southern Illinois University and, as a Special Education teacher, was active in the disability rights movement of the 1970’s. She was a teacher in one of the first schools to be opened in Southern Illinois after educational rights were guaranteed by law to students with disabilities, and she went on to be active in the independent living movement for adults with disabilities. Marsha maintained her commitment to human rights, social justice, and peace activism throughout her life and she raised her daughters to be critical thinkers committed, as she was, to celebrating diversity and advocating for equity and inclusion.

Marsha was a talented crafter and loved giving gifts to friends and family. She was a creative problem-solver and never found a piece of furniture on the side of the road that she couldn’t breathe new life into. She left her mark in countless creations big and small. Marsha was also a passionate researcher of family history and genealogy, and enjoyed creating art and keepsake books that honored her ancestors’ lives. She celebrated the mystical and was always eager to explore ideas that went counter to traditional ways of thinking. She discovered yoga, meditation, upcycling, and thrifting in her early adulthood and maintained these practices throughout her life. She was the biggest champion for the ones she loved and celebrated and encouraged everything that was special and unique about a person. Marsha’s family is proud to carry on her legacy of compassion, creativity, and love of learning.

Marsha is survived by Ernest Pancsofar, her husband of 48 years and loving and devoted care partner on her journey with Alzheimer’s disease, daughters Nadya Pancsofar and Natyra Pancsofar, grandson Leo Schmidt, and son-in-law, Randy Schmidt. One of Marsha’s greatest moments came when she was reunited with her birth son, Jay Snyder. She cherished having Jay and his children, Ariel and Joshua, in her life. She enjoyed a rich, 50+ year devoted friendship with Alria Warner. A celebration of life will be held in the summer. In lieu of flowers, please create something special and unique in her honor and share it with someone you love.