Marlene Joan Sargente, 90, of Bethlehem, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2024. She was the devoted wife of the late Philip J. Sargente with whom she shared 51 years of marriage.

Born on May 14,1934 in New York, NY, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Rava and Ida (Truppi) Rava.

Marlene graduated from St. Anthony’s Commercial High School in New York City, class of 1952. She graduated with honors and achieved the “Flying Fingers” award for typing excellence. She also received a medal from The Honorable William O’Dwyer, Mayor of New York City, for an essay written about fire safety.

After graduation, Marlene worked on Wall Street in New York City as a legal secretary for various law firms. Marlene also worked at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Florida. She was the secretary to the Director of Nursing and was also in charge of staffing for the entire hospital. Marlene had a strong work ethic and was named Employee of the Month numerous times.

Many activities brought joy to Marlene’s life. She enjoyed singing, dancing, and acting. She had a beautiful voice and played the part of “Roxie Hart” in a New Jersey playhouse production of the play Chicago.

Malene was a true sports enthusiast and loved baseball and tennis. She was a lifetime Yankees fan and fondly recalled going to Yankee Stadium with her father to watch them play.

As a lover of all God’s creatures, Marlene was an avid supporter of the ASPCA. In addition, Marlene had a passion for elephants, she was a supporter of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and adopted an orphaned elephant in need.

Marlene was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, Bethlehem.

Marlene’s greatest joy in life was the love she had for her children. She adored them beyond measure and was incredibly proud of them and their accomplishments. She loved her family and cherished every moment with them. She will be lovingly remembered for her vivacious personality, and wonderful sense of humor,

She leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories with her family. She is survived by her daughter Karen DeSalva and husband Steven of Bethlehem; her son Philip Sargente and wife Dana of New Jersey; her daughter Mary Sargente of Bethlehem; her son Joseph Sargente and wife Melissa of New Jersey. Marlene was a proud grandmother to 4 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services: Services will be private at the convenience of the family.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the World Wildlife Fund.