Marlene was born on February 19, 1934 in San Francisco. On October 8, 1961, she married James Conrad Courselle. They raised three daughters, Linda, Catherine and Claudia.
Marlene was passionate about her big family, cooking and sharing meals with the people she loved and doting on her grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling with Jim in their trailer, throwing a fishing pole in the water, and playing the slots at the casinos. Marlene was known for her infectious laughter, her willingness to help those in need and her compassionate nature. She made a loving, lasting impression on everyone who knew her.
Marlene will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Jim, her three daughters, Linda [Daniel Brunello, husband], Catherine and Claudia [Edmund Loens, husband], their children, Kristina, Jeff, Ashley, Cassandra, Summer, Madalyn, Theresa and Abigail and great-grandchildren, Madison and Kennedy. A small private service was held at St. Nicholas Church in Los Altos on Saturday, May 2, 2020.
If we could pick a theme to commemorate Mom’s life, it would be focused on family.
Anyone who knew Mom, knew that her family was always her greatest pride and joy. She loved all of us with all of her heart. Having had a rough time growing up, she made sure that each of us – Linda, Kadi and Claudia - always knew how much she loved us. As our family grew, her heart only grew bigger with each new member.
She always wanted a big family and never dreamed she would not only enjoy wonderful grandchildren, Kristina, Jeff, Ashley, Cassie, Theresa, Summer, Madalyn and Abby, but also to know and love her great-grandchildren, Madison and Kennedy.
And with each new spouse – Dan, Eddie, Everett, Bri and soon, Matt, Mom delighted in welcoming them to the family fold too. She loved all of you so much.
Her devotion and lifelong loving partnership with Dad of nearly 59 years serves as a great example of commitment and love for all of us remember. She loved to travel in their trailer, whether it was to eat Lobster in Maine or pan for gold in the mountains or hit the slots at a casino. Dad was her best friend and they took amazing care of each other. It was beautiful how often they told each other “I love you” and every single morning, they would kiss good morning. The way Dad took care of her in her last months will forever be in our hearts. We love you, Dad.
Mom would show childlike delight in everything, big or small – like
• A special craft or drawing from one of the grandchildren
• Being invited for dinner or holidays
• Receiving a Costco chicken from Kadi or Linda
• And whenever her former eagle eyes would spot a penny in a parking lot.
It was fun to watch her be so excited over little things, which is another great life lesson for us.
Mom was also known for not only cooking, canning and making jelly, but for her love of feeding people. She was never happier than when her kitchen table was full of people and food and overflowing with wine and laughter. She used to joke about being a mess sergeant in a previous life because she made so much food for every occasion!
We had so many great meals together! And who was the one who usually caused trouble? MOM. She would fling the first noodle, cream puff or artichoke leaf to start the food fight. And she laughed the hardest when Ashley lit her hair on fire blowing out her birthday candles!
I don’t know where Mom learned to make her special potato salad recipe, but whenever she’d offer to bring it to a special occasion – we would jump on it! Everyone loved her potato salad – it took her many hours, a lot of muscle stirring the huge bowl and an extra dash of love to produce that dish! All of our family and friends think of potato salad when they think of Mom!
When someone needed her help, Mom would drop everything. Remember the time when there was a flood in the bakery and she and dad packed up Thanksgiving dinner and drove it over the hill from Watsonville so we could all be together? Or when my best childhood friend, Lori, was in a coma at Stanford. No kids were allowed to visit, so mom went every single day to get an update so I could share it with my classmates.
When my kids were little, Mom would go grocery shopping for me and we teasingly called her mom.com. She loved to go with Dad to pick up Abby and Gaby from Carlton and they would laugh the whole way home. She really loved to be there for the people she loved.
Mom’s devotion to her grand and great-grandchildren was her mission later in life. I think every one of the older grandkids spent time digging in her epic lid drawer and banging on pots on the kitchen floor. And all of them enjoyed baking with her and fishing when she was able. Along with Dad, she loved to be the first to take the little ones fishing! She made every baby a baby blanket until she could no longer see the needle.
Mom was ornery too! You did not whistle in the house, put your elbows on the table and god forbid you go in her purse! I wrote a little poem that I’d like to share. It’s called “Mom’s Purse”:
It was always with her or never too far,
by the foot of the bed or the seat of the car.
It weighed 50 lbs – or so it would seem,
the purse on her shoulder, the handbag extreme.
It had everything in it, and then some more,
from lemon drops to lipstick and coupons for the store.
You never knew what you’d find buried within,
hoof trimmers, garlic, curlers and pins.
The mysteries within were off limits to us,
the mighty purse for which she made such a fuss.
And rightly so, with all it’s treasures,
scarves, and Barbies and tools to measure.
Oh what items that bag could disperse,
I can still hear her saying “please bring me my purse.”
When we asked for you to contribute your favorite memories of mom, many of you talked about her courage. Mom beat cancer twice over 24 years before it finally won. She didn’t complain and she always looked forward to living another day. She was optimistic and hopeful and she was a fighter!
Mom, we know you’re here with us today. I think we can all picture you in heaven doing the things you loved to do like playing bingo, fishing on a pier, panning, playing the slots and of course, feeding people your potato salad. You’ve made a huge, loving, lasting impression on everyone who ever met you. We love you so much.
Rest in peace.
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