Marcelle M Madeleine Charlebois-Chrysosferidis, age 104 ½, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. A celebration of her life is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at 2 p.m., followed by a service at 3 p.m.
Marcelle was born July 22, 1921, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to the late Wilbrod and Clotilde Dube-Charlebois. She lived a unique and extraordinary life. Marcelle was educated in several convents in Montreal, Canada. She became fluent in French and English and graduated with honors from Montreal Congregation Notre Dame in the secretarial program. In 1940, being a bilingual stenographer, Marcelle was hired to work as a secretary for the legal office department of the War Time Services and Trade Board for the Canadian Government. In 1946, she accepted a job as a secretary, stenographer and translator in Washington, DC, with the French Missions of the Department of Security Council Affairs. Within that same year, when the United Nations came into being, Marcelle received her first big assignment when she was appointed the personal secretary to the first UN Secretary-General, Trygve Lie. In January of 1947, Marcelle joined the delegation to accompany members of the Balkans Commission to investigate the “guerilla war” like conflicts in Greece and Albania.
As the secretary and translator, Marcelle carried her portable typewriter and went to the front lines with the commission’s observation group. She narrated countless stories of her travels with the various missions that the UN was engaged in between the years of 1947 to 1952. Marcelle was very fond of Mr. and Mrs. Lie and the members of the delegation. She spoke often of the 12-16 hours of travel and the rough terrain and conditions of the countries. The group traveled to France, Switzerland, Albania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon and Syria with a goal to prevent hostilities between the countries. Often, they had to travel on mules to cross the rough terrains and on camel in the middle east.
After the mission was completed, they returned to New York to complete the reports and findings from their missions. Marcelle always said Greece was her favorite country due to its ancient ruins, “magnificent heritage” and the friendly Greek people. She made several trips to Greece from New York. Marcelle met her husband, Leonidas Chrysosferidis in 1950 on one of her mission trips. They were wed in 1957 and had two children, Vassilis and Phillip. Marcelle spent the next 24 years residing in Greece. She enjoyed entertaining, sewing, and traveling. Her favorite hobby was reading. Marcelle had a curious mind and read historical events, archaeological findings, autobiographies, to name a few of her subject of interests.
In 1981, Marcelle returned to Montreal, Canada and worked for a law firm, Bessner and Associates, as a stenographer. She spent most of her time with her son, Phillip, her sister, Yvette Boulaine, her niece, Collette Boulaine, her sister-in-law, Yvette Charlebois and her nephews, Claude, Maurice, and their families.
From 1994 to 2021, Marcelle visited Emanuel County and spent three to six months a year with her son Phillip and his family. In January of 2023, due to her inability to be self-sufficient, Marcelle resided with Phillip and Pina and became a US permanent resident. Ms. Charlebois- Chrysosferidis is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Maurice Charlebois Sr., Paul Charlebois and Armand Charlebois; sister, Yvette Bouliane; niece, Collette Bouliane; and many family members and very close friends.
Ms. Charlebois-Chrysosferidis is survived by her sons, Phillip (C. Pina) Chrysosferidis of Emanuel County and Vassilis (Maria) Chrysosferidis of Greece; grandchildren, Alexandra, Michael (Coryleigh), Steven (Julie), Peter (Kaitlyn), Markella and Alkistis; four great-grandchildren, Arianna, Lucas, Arwen and Maximus; nephews, Claude Charlebois (Suzanne) and Maurice Charlebois, both of Quebec, Canada; niece, Lenia Contopoulos of Greece; and many great-grand-nephews, nieces and friends.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to EMT personnel for their prompt response. In addition, we are grateful to the doctors and nurses of Emanuel Medical Center in Swainsboro and to the doctors, nurses and staff at Community Hospice for their care towards our mother.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Emanuel Medical Center Foundation, Attention: Lynn Brinson, 117 Kite Road, Swainsboro, GA 30401 or to: Community Hospice, 904 Mt. Vernon Road, PO Box 2277, Vidalia, GA 30474.
Tomlinson Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.
