Marvella Casale

Marvella Tannenbaum Casale – May 9, 1944 – January 1, 2023

Born in Chicago Illinois on May 9, 1944 to Dr. William Tannenbaum and Hazel Rosenberg Tannenbaum .
Marvella graduated from Francis Parker High School and went on to attend Washington University in St.
Louis, MO. Returning to Chicago Marvella worked for the late Bernie Sahlins at the original Second City
Theater in Chicago. In the 1960’s always interested in art & fashion from a very young age Marvella
created an underground art gallery in her one bedroom apartment in Sandburg Village in Chicago which
was highly successful promoting young and up and coming artists. She later moved to Toronto Canada
where she lived for a year as landed immigrant and shared a space with a group of actors that included a
very young Victor Garber, among others. Briefly moving back to Chicago she founded and operated the
Venerable Bead a craft store specializing in the sale of exotic beads from around the world. In 1974
Marvella picked up and moved to Manhattan where she worked in and around the fashion industry and
later created Marvella Tannenbaum Designs a handbag design and manufacturing company whose
designs were featured in numerous fashion and accessory magazines and sold around the world.
Marvella was also invited to teach a course in handbag and accessory design at Parsons School of Design
where she taught for one year.
In 1991 Marvella moved to Phoenicia, NY. Always an eclectic artist, craft person and gardener she
became well known in the community. In addition to creating a unique line of handmade greeting cards
sold locally in Phoenicia she also ran the Phoenicia Library Plant Sale for about 7 years as well as
volunteering at the UMC Phoenicia Thrift Store for about 15 years. She could be found working at the
original Tenderland and later and most recently at The Tenderland Home. Her gardens on Lower High
Street appeared on the Shandaken Garden Tour 7 years in a row. She is survived by her loving husband
of 39 years Donald J Casale of Phoenicia, a son Ace Moses of New Haven CT., daughter Marianne Casale
Questel of Fishkill, NY and two grandsons Ethan and Hunter Questel. A memorial service and gathering
is tentatively planned for the Spring.

You may share a special memory, photo, or condolence with the family on Marvella's Tribute Wall at www.gormleyfuneralhome.com

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