Birth date: Apr 7, 1936 Death date: Feb 11, 2026
Celebrating the Life of Marcella K Atwood Please click here to view livestream April 7th, 1936 – February 11th, 2026 No one in our family ever doubted where to find calm and a quick laugh—right next to Marcella. Losing her on F Read Obituary
I will miss your voice and laughter. You made my day brighter after always talking with you. You had such a calm gentleness about you. I admired your ability to take whatever life sent your way with ease and without anger. You will be missed every day and hope the angels watch over you with all the love that we all have for you. Rest in Peace my dear Marcella.
I have a lot of memories with my dear friend...but they are not enough to fill the emptiness I feel...
I had seen Marcella for years at 66th street bingo playing in the non-smoking room...but didn't start being her "Bingo Buddy" until my other "Bingo Pic" Linda Orcutt moved further out of the area about 7 years ago. Everyone in the room spoke to one another...but after Linda moved...I started to sit at Marcella's table and we started really talking.
She told me about the other local bingo's she went to at Lopez Hall Knights of Columbus and Holy Cross Church...and I asked her if I could tag along with her? So my one night a week at 66th street bingo...turned now into 2 nights a week with Marcella.
Then a couple of years ago...Holy Cross Church hall's air conditioner broke down during the summer and we started to go to St. Jerome's Church in Largo on Thursday afternoons to play bingo...so we could still play two times a week...as we enjoyed our time together playing bingo. ❤️. It took months for Holy Cross to get it's A/C fixed, as parts were scarce and difficult to find, and we decided...that we didn't want to give up our added afternoon of bingo...and that playing 3 days a week wasn't really such a bad thing. LOL.
We still went back to 66th street when they had Groupons or for our 3 days of half price Birthday Bingo's...or when the Catholic Bingos where closed for religious holidays.
Folks at bingo thought Marcella was my Mother...and we stopped correcting them as I got along better with her than my own Mom. We thought alike and had similar tastes in food and both loved animals! She went along with me dressing her up for Holidays or Halloween or going with me to Drag Queen Bingo Fundraisers for Animal Rescues. We just enjoyed each other's company! Something would happen at bingo...and we would just look at each other across the table and roll our eyes together...we knew what each other was thinking!
She hated that she was losing her mobility and kept apologizing to me for being a "burden" as I started to have to assist her in getting around. I kept telling her that I'd rather have her be with me than go alone...but I could never quite convince her that I needed her company just as much as she needed my help!
I will miss our late night phone calls and all the time we spent together...may she win every bingo game in Heaven!!
Love you Marcella...RIP ❤️❤️❤️
Patti Gumz
