Marian Jerome Obituary

Marian Jerome
AIKEN - Known as Toni her entire life, Marian Antoinette MacMaster Kleinbub Jerome left us on November 3, 2025, in her beautiful Aiken home, with her beloved and willful dog, Archie, faithfully by her side.
Toni's life revolved around her unbounded enthusiasm for family, friends and living an artful life - a way of life she shared generously with everyone who knew her. From an early age, she expressed herself through creativity and beauty, passions that would shape her entire life.
Toni was married to Ken Kleinbub and, in 1972, they moved to Aiken. Although she and Ken would later part, Aiken quickly became Toni's forever home.
In 1983, Toni married Michael Jerome, her partner in love and in life for more than forty years. Together they shared a rich life of travel, creativity and deep companionship - exploring Europe, the American West and the Caribbean, always returning to their beloved Aiken and their circle of family, dogs, horses and dear friends. They traveled through life together, each an independent spirit, yet bound for the ages to one another.
Toni's business career was fueled by her inherent artistic sense coupled with her entrepreneurial drive. Her first business venture, The Frame Barn, combined art and enterprise, not an easy blend. She later founded The Artist's Parlor, one of Aiken's most distinctive and treasured destination shops, featuring mostly American-made art, jewelry and gifts.
After a brief retirement, Toni "un-retired" in 2010 to open Re-Fresh, another one-of-a-kind Aiken boutique that she and Michael ran together. Toni's shops were famous for their dazzling Christmas window displays that became a cherished and admired local tradition. Through her years as a downtown business owner, Toni helped shape the thriving creative and business community that defines historic Aiken today.
Toni was an enthusiastic spirit who found joy in the every day: a breakfast outing, a dusty and bumpy ride through the mountains of Guatemala in the back of a pickup truck or a long afternoon surrounded by friends, laughter and perhaps a glass of wine. She was famous for her thoughtful and clever gifts, frequently with a story attached: "I saw this in a shop in Baltimore and thought of you," she would say with a smile and a hug.
A devoted reader, Toni filled her home with many and varied books. She especially enjoyed biographies, notably Churchill and Kennedy. Every summer she hosted "Camp Jerome," a never-forget gathering for her grandchildren filled with art projects, museum trips, cooking experiments and countless creative adventures.
Toni loved deeply - her family, her friends, her dogs and her community. She was a dog person, a horse person and above all, a people person. She tended her friendships like gardens, knowing that love and attention were what made them flourish.
Born in Ballston Spa, New York, and raised in northern New Jersey, Toni graduated from Pompton Lakes High School before attending Madison College (now James Madison University), where she majored in art.
Toni is survived by her husband, Michael Jerome, the consummate gentleman; her sons Brian Kleinbub (Susan) and Matthew Kleinbub (Debbie); and her daughters Andrea West (Urbie) and Ilana Jerome (Phil). She is also survived by her adored and adoring grandchildren - Isabelle (Andrew), Miranda, Duncan (Caroline), Lily (Liam), Sullivan, Ashby (Ashley), Andrew (Brianna), and Etta - and great-grandchildren Addison and Grayson, all of whom will forever cherish memories of their elegant and creative Grammy - and by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She is also survived by her gracious and gentle sister Connie Fitzpatrick (Chris) and brothers Fred MacMaster and George MacMaster (Michele). Toni and Michele shared a particularly close bond, strengthened by countless adventures, including art-buying trips across the country - and a memorable $75 breakfast of toast and coffee in San Francisco.
Toni was predeceased by her parents, Gloria and Fredric MacMaster, her sister Gloria Parsons and her brother David MacMaster.
Toni lived a full, artful life - one in which she embraced curiosity, beauty and wonderment. She shared her love of life freely and left a legacy as vibrant and beautiful as the life she created.
Our Toni truly embodied the adage of a life well lived.
A memorial for family and friends will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Shellhouse Funeral Home, 924 Hayne Avenue SW, Aiken. A celebration of life is planned for early 2026.
SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME,
924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC