Marlene Ellen (Petty) Rock , died unexpectedly Sunday afternoon, Aug. 21, 2005, at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury, at the age of 69. She was born Jan. 24, 1936, in St. Johnsbury, the youngest child of the late Harry Francis and Jennie Inez (Powers) Petty. When she was 9 months old, her family bought the farm where she has resided all her life. The farm is well-known as Petty-Rock Farm, famous for its registered Holstein cattle, its Fancy Grade maple syrup, and Marlene's unending hospitality. A 1954 graduate of St. Johnsbury Academy, Marlene hosted many class reunions and other get-togethers at her home. Marlene was extremely interested in everything. She attended most of the select board and school board meetings, always making her opinions known and doing all she could to further any project she undertook. She was a fourth generation member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in St. Johnsbury, where she was also very active, serving as a chalice bearer for communion, a member of the vestry, the Stewardship Committee, the Alter Guild, participating in the church's monthly services at St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab Center, and sang in the choir at one time. A long-time member of the St. Johnsbury Center Community Club, Marlene also was a member of the Green Mountain Grange 1, was a den mother when her sons were Boy Scouts, a Girl Scout leader for Gloria, the Center School PTG, and was a dairy inspector for the Vermont Dairy Counsel. Marlene was the recipient of a public service award for her outstanding community service by the Shepherd Pomona Grange in 2001 and was honored by NVRH for serving countless hours as a dedicated volunteer since 1998. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, daughter and sister, always attending any activities in which her family participated. She loved to travel, and drove extensively to many places, first with her mother and then with her husband and children. She particularly enjoyed her time-share condos at North Conway and Attitash, going to ice shows and plays. She was an avid Patriots fan and drove people crazy while she talked to the television, telling the players what to do. Her "shrine" to Drew Bledsoe was a family joke. She took great pleasure in hosting the annual Hutchinson-Powers reunions at Petty-Rock Farm which were enjoyed by her many relatives. She never walked away from a plea for help, willing to do all she could, often changing her schedule to provide rides to doctors' appointments, caring for sick friends and family members. Her no-nonsense practical attitude was just what people needed when they were ill. Innumerable people loved her and depended on her. Marlene is survived by three beloved children, Douglas Petty and his wife Kandy (Brill), Gloria Aldrich and her husband Jeffrey, and Barry Rock; two grandsons, Andrew David and Nathan Daniel Petty; a sister, Betty Maynard and her husband Fred; her aunt, Phyllis Powers; two sisters-in-law, Pauline Cassidy and her husband Bevo, and Carolyn Robinson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, Paul Ernest Rock, whom she married on July 15, 1973; a son, Daniel "Dan" Petty; two brothers, Harry Francis Petty Jr., and Paul Petty; her sister, JoAnn Nichols; and her sister in-law, Elaine Petty. Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 26, at 1 p.m., at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Main Street in St. Johnsbury with the Revs. Jeanette Tweedy and Richard Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in St. Johnsbury Center Cemetery. Friends may call on the family Thursday, Aug. 25, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Marlene Rock's memory may be directed to either St. Johnsbury Center Community Club, P.O. Box 152, St. Johnsbury Center, VT 05863; or to Green Mountain Grange 1, P.O. Box 324, St. Johnsbury Center, VT 05863.