Marion A. Chronis, 89, of Georgetown, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at the Jeffrey and Susan Brudnick Center for Living in Peabody with the sounds of Frank Sinatra playing in her room. She was the beloved wife of Ernest P. Chronis with whom she shared 19 years of marriage until his passing in 1977.

Marion was born in Salem, MA on October 31, 1934 and was the cherished daughter of the late Rocco and Vincenza (Montoni) Giardi. After growing up in a robust, loving, Italian family on Summer Street, Marion went on to graduate from Salem High School and worked as a telephone operator. Shortly after Marion and Ernie married, they moved to Peabody and began raising their three daughters. During those years, Marion worked at the family restaurant, Vic’s Drive In, and was famously known as the “Vic’s Drive-in Lady”.

In 1976, the family moved to Georgetown into a beautiful new home built primarily by Ernie. Sadly, Marion and the girls lost Ernie unexpectedly after only one year in their new home. She persevered with her daughters, and acquired a new position at the telephone company, where she stayed until retirement.

Marion loved entertaining, traveling and spending most of her time with her family. Her travel experiences took her to Canada, Italy, Greece, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and various destinations around the country. If she wasn’t home cooking and entertaining, she was most likely at any one of her eight grandchildren’s plays, sporting events, or dance recitals. Her favorite pastimes were dancing, movies, crossword puzzles, restaurants, music and theater.

Although a longtime resident of Georgetown, Marion’s love for Salem never diminished and she visited often to see family and old friends. If you were lucky enough to have sat at her table, you would have experienced the best meatballs you ever tasted, along with a variety of authentic Greek dishes she learned how to make from Ernie's family. She truly loved having family and friends for meals any time of day and everyone who walked through her door, experienced that genuine ability of Marion to make everyone seated feel like family, not just those of us who were. We will miss you more than you will ever know.

Marion is survived by her three daughters, Gina Velonis and her husband Nick of Salem, Dianne Duckworth and her husband David of Bradford and Elena Whittier also of Bradford; her grandchildren, Nicholas, Demitra and Athena Velonis, Alec and his wife Courtney, Shelby, and Colin Duckworth and Tyler and Lauren Whittier; her brother, Alphonse “Butch” Giardi and his wife Jane of Salem; her sister, Evelyn Marquis and her husband Norman of Georgetown; her brother-in-law, Sal Orlando of Salem; and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her grand-dogs Millie & Theo.

Sadly, in addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by her son-in-law, Scott Whittier; her brother, Rocco Giardi and his wife Joan; and her sister, Diana Orlando.

Our sincerest gratitude to the staff at The Jeffrey and Susan Brudnick Center for Living and Care Dimensions.

Visiting hours will be held at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 12PM to 2PM followed by her Funeral Service in the funeral home at 2PM. Interment will be at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Marion to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by visiting www.stjude.org.