Rev. Marjorie H. Neal

Neal, Rev. Marjorie Esther (nee Herman) formerly of Averill Park, died October 26, 2026, surrounded by family and love, at the Greenfield Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lancaster, NY at the age of 91.

A service of memorial and burial will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. at theTaborton Cemetery behind Zion’s United Church of Christ, 741 Taborton Rd, Sand Lake, NY 12153. Family and friendsare invited to attend.

Marjorie was born August 9, 1935, in Taborton, the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Herman and sister of the late Arthur E. Herman Sr.

She graduated from Averill Park High School in 1952, salutatorian of her class. She was immediately employed by the New York Telephone Company in its Albany office as supervisory staff clerk in Cost Control and Sales Techniques until 1966. While working days she was attending Russell Sage College in Albany in the evenings, and eventually received her B.S., degree in Cultural Studies(with commendation) from SUNY Empire State College in 1981.

While still in the Albany area, she was very active in theMethodist Church (now Church of the Covenant) in Averill Park, NY. It was at that time that she became involved in a religious drama group sponsored by local ministers. While rehearsing “Christ and the Concrete City” she met and ultimately married the Rev. Kenneth W. Neal, then pastor of the Disciples Church in Poestenkill, NY. They had four children. They moved to Buffalo, NY when Ken was called to be pastor at Cleveland Heights Christian Church in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga.

Marjorie earned her Master of Divinity degree (with Academic Distinction) from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, NY. While there, she pioneered in opening this Roman Catholic Seminary to a broader ecumenical student body. She was the only woman in a class of 27 future priests. Marge was ordained to ministry at Cleveland Heights Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Cheektowaga on May 12, 1985. Many of the participants and attendees were her classmates.

In addition to serving as supply preacher for several churches in Western New York, Rev. Marjorie Neal served as interim pastor for Pembroke Community Church, and the Church of Christ (Disciples) in Winger, Ontario Canada. She also served as pastor of St. Paul’s United church of Christ in Alden, St. John’s United Church of Christ on Amherst Street in Buffalo, and First United Church of Christ on Clinton Street in Buffalo. She also served as chaplain at Williamsville Suburban Nursing Home, and hospital chaplain in the Kaleida Health System.

Marjorie was a woman of God who taught her family the importance of service, love, and inclusion. She was proud to be mountain strong and constantly pushed through any barrier that dared try to stop her dreams, passions, and vision.

She is survived by her husband and their four children: Joan Neal, Carol (Scott) Neal-Rossi, Linda (Andrew) Shinas, Jeffrey (Ruth) Neal, and nine grandchildren, whom she absolutely adored.

Marjorie’s committal service is being held at the Herman plot behind the church where she was baptized and confirmed. She will never miss another “Taborton Picnic!” If desired, memorials may be sent to Zion’s United Church of Christ in Taborton.