Marianne was not the most beautiful, she was not even the prettiest girl in our Ridgefield High senior class, but she did have the most gifted voice in our choral group.  Marianne had spirit, courage that radiated with everyone she touched.  I shared three classes with her that senior year.  Marianne passed away from respiratory failure--from earlier scarlet fever--and never graduated.

     As she lay in state, Marianne was the most beautiful girl at Ridgefield High.  All of us were blessed to have a singing angel in God's high heaven.