Marge Orfanello *
Marge Marie (Urquhart) Orfanello, 37, of New Bedford, beloved wife, daughter, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, April 25, 2025, after a courageous and grace-filled battle with cancer – surrounded by family, love, and, as Marge would have insisted, more than a few inside jokes. Born August 18, 1987, in Hartford, CT, Marge was the cherished daughter of Rosa (Rosato) Urquhart and the late Carl S. Urquhart. She was a proud graduate of South Windsor High School, Class of 2005, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Western New England College in 2009. She built a career she loved as a Senior Planner at Brahmin Leather Works, where her creativity, diligence, and warmth left a lasting mark. Marge lived her life with unmatched heart, humor, and sparkle. She found joy in all things Disney, the calming artistry of pottery, biking through sun-filled trails, crafting beautiful things with her hands, and traveling to new corners of the world – always with wide-eyed wonder. She leaves behind her devoted husband and best friend, Matthew Orfanello; her loving mother, Rosa Urquhart; her brother, Scott Urquhart and his wife Julie, and their daughter Abby Shockey and husband Adam. She also leaves her Aunt and Parina, Rosalia Miller and her husband Brian; her Uncle and Parino, Gaspare Rosato and his wife Lois; her Uncle Saverio Rosato; her cousins, Ariel, Rio, Shana, Daniel, Alicia, Troy, Antonio, Carmine, Gianna, and Audriana; her in-laws, Nora and Frank Orfanello; her sister-in-law Maria Gonzalez and her husband Josthim and their daughter Cheyenne; and her sister-in-law Grace Orfanello. Beyond family, Marge leaves behind an extraordinary number of friends who were, in every meaningful way, family – truly too many to name without this turning into the extended cut of Weekend at Bernie’s II (which, to be fair, Marge would have absolutely loved). She was predeceased by her father, Carl S. Urquhart; her beloved grandparents, Rosario and Margherita Rosato; her nephew, Brock Comer; and her brother-in-law, Frankie Orfanello. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, April 29, from 4:00–7:00 PM at Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Road, Enfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, April 30, at 10:00 AM at St. Bernard Church, 426 Hazard Avenue, Enfield. PLEASE MEET DIRECTLY AT THE CHURCH. Burial will follow in St. Patrick King Street Cemetery, Enfield. Memorial donations may be made in Marge’s name to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (dana-farber.org) or the Foundation for the NIH (fnih.org). For online condolences (or to share your favorite Marge story), please visit www.leetestevens.com.
Published by WFSB on Apr. 26, 2025.