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A memorial service will be held Saturday in Marietta, Ga., for Marlene Geoffrion, the widow of Montreal Canadiens great and Hockey Hall of Fame member Bernie (Boom Boom) Geoffrion. She died on March 2 at age 84.

Geoffrion was the daughter of Canadiens Hockey Hall of Famer Howie Morenz and her early life was marked by tragedy. She was three years old when her father died of complications from a broken leg suffered during a game in 1937. Her brother, Donald, died of pneumonia two years later and her mother died when she was eight.

Marlene was skating with an ice show at the Forum when she met Canadiens prospect Bernie Geoffrion and they were married for 54 years. He died of cancer on March 11, 2006, the same day his No. 5 was retired at the Bell Centre. Marlene kept a promise to her husband to travel from their home in Georgia to represent him.

Photo by Ian Barrett / Montreal Gazette

She described the moment when she spoke at a Hockey Ministries International breakfast during the 2009 NHL All-Star Game festivities in Montreal.