Marlene B. Ambrogio

OBITUARY

Marlene Ambrogio, 78, passed away peacefully on May 25, 2026, at Luther Crest in Allentown, PA. She was born on May 3, 1948, in Bound Brook, NJ, as the third of six daughters to the late John J. and Helen E. (Darrow) Ambrogio, and was married for forty-two years to the late David Pfahler of Allentown, PA. She grew up in Dunellen NJ and spent her youthful summers in favorite beach town, Lavallette, NJ, where she and her family enjoyed their summer vacation for years before moving to Allentown, PA in 1962. Marlene graduated from Allentown Central Catholic High School in 1966 and from Drexel University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Professional Teaching certificate in Business Education. She started her career with the Bank of Pennsylvania as an Assistant Branch Manager, Branch Manager, and Assistant Vice President and in both the Reading and Allentown offices for eleven years. Following her banking career, she was a Compensation Specialist in the Human Resources department with Air Products and Chemicals until 1987. She then joined her husband David Pfahler as a Field Accountant Representative for the Reader’s Digest Association responsible for installing the use of electronic data management computer software for the company.

This experience allowed her to teach computer programming and Introduction to Microcomputer/MSWorks for the Salisbury School District in the Business Education Department, Allentown School District, Parkland School District and Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit on a part-time basis. She also earned certificates from Lehigh Carbon Community College in Travel and Tourism in 1989 and Adult Literacy Tutor Training in 1990. She was a member of the Phi Gamma Nu Professional Sorority for Women in Commerce and the Pi Omega Pi Honor Fraternity for Business Education. She had professional memberships in the American Institute for Banking, American Compensation Association and the Board of Directors for Air Products and Chemicals Federal Credit Union.

She was past President and District Governor for the Quota International Club of Allentown for eighteen years. She was also a member of the Jaycee Women of Allentown, and the United Way of Lehigh County.

She loved playing tennis and was an avid skier and member of the Mack’s Ski Club and ski trip chairperson in the eighties.

Marlene’s love of Broadway theater and musicals brought her frequently to New York City as well as the Allentown Civic Little Theater, Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University and State Theatre for the Arts where she enjoyed countless productions with family and friends. After retiring, Marlene enjoyed volunteering at the Allentown Art Museum. Her community service also included tutoring for the Pennsylvania Literacy Corps, the LCCC ESL Department, and the Keenan House Drug Rehabilitation Center. In addition, she played a key role in the sales and marketing of Ben Iobst’s Seven Medals, Singing Bowls of Tibet CD, released in 1999, which sold more than 95,000 copies worldwide.

Marlene is survived by her sisters, Elizabeth Barone of White Plains, NY; Gloria Ambrosia of Leland, NC; Beverly Wildonger (David) of North Venice, FL; and Barbara McFarland (David) of Lakewood Ranch, FL. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Anne Lawrence of New York, NY; Roger Stear of Collegeville; Rick Stear (Marcelo) of New York, NY; Ron Stear (Fernanda) of Aspen, CO; Laura Barone of Santa Monica, CA; Catherine Barone and her sons of New York, NY; and Spencer Wildonger (Claire) of Fairfax, VA. She was preceded in death by her husband, David Pfahler of Allentown, PA; her sister, Diane Ambrogio of Allentown, PA; and her brother-in-law, Robert Barone.

The Ambrogio family extends heartfelt thanks to Marlene’s caregivers and the hospice staff at Luther Crest for their compassionate care. She will be deeply missed by her beloved family, friends, and colleagues, and her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched through her love and generosity.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Heintzelman- Stephens Funeral Home P.C., 274 N. Krocks Road, Allentown, PA 18106. Calling hours will take place from 1:00 to 2:00 PM, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the American Cancer Society at https://www.cancer.org/donate or The Literacy Center 532 Hamilton Street Allentown, PA.