Karen Ellen Marinelli

attended Our Lady of Angels, Mercy High School and The College of San Mateo. Karen entered her

peaceful rest, with her children by her side as the sun rose, on October 23, 2019 in Placerville,

California. She worked as an orthodontist assistant before marrying the love of her life, Raymond J.

Marinelli of San Francisco, in 1964. Karen and Ray lived in Millbrae where they raised their three

children: Joe, Michelle and Denise.

Karen was continuously involved and instrumental with her children’s school activities, including

PTA, scouts and sports. She could often be found at the kid’s schools and was typically on a first

name basis with principals and teachers, sometimes to her children’s chagrin! Karen never missed

the opportunity to drive the kids and team members to games, (loading them up in the Pontiac),

coach volleyball or softball or chaperone school field trips or Girl Scout overnight camping trips. She

enjoyed gardening and took great pride maintaining numerous plants and her beautiful camelia

trees in the backyard.

Karen loved the outdoors and nature. She often recalled memories, with a smile, of annual summer

camping at Camp Richardson in Lake Tahoe, with her family and all her Provan cousins. To this day,

Karen, her sisters and her cousins break into laughter when they share stories of their childhood

camping trips! Karen and Ray carried on the tradition with their children making annual camping

trips throughout National Parks in California. Family vacations included special trips to Disneyland,

Hawaii a cruise to Mexico and river rafting and camping on the Green River in Utah. Countless

summers spent with family and friends at Le Trianon Resort at Blue Lakes, in Mendocino County

provided years of fun, laughter and good memories.

An avid sports fan, Karen played adult co-ed softball and watched nearly every sport shown on TV.

She was a devoted and ardent fan of the San Francisco 49ers. Karen and Ray enjoyed many years

and fond memories as season ticket holders, beginning in 1981. The excitement of attending the

Super Bowl in Detroit, where the Niners won their first Super Bowl in 1982, is everlasting. Karen

loved attending games with Ray and tailgating with groups of friends. Her support of the 49ers

bordered on obsession, as she would return home from Candlestick and watch the recorded game

over again on the Beta! A highlight of her life was being in Las Vegas on the same weekend and

serendipitously staying at the same hotel (The Paris) as members of the legendary 49er teams of the

80s. Karen spent several hours over that weekend holding court at the hotel bar, sharing stories and

reliving great plays with several 49er players, including her all-time favorite player, #81 Jerry Rice.

With the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, Karen loved all animals, especially her dogs and a cat who

adopted her. From her room, she watched the wildlife and enjoyed their antics and interactions. All

these critters provided Karen endless joy and entertainment.

Karen is survived by and lived her life for her beloved children: Joe Marinelli (Joanie); Michelle

Marinelli-Benson (David) and Denise DeLucchi (Dave), along with six grandchildren, Perry & Robby

Persijn, Gaaret & Jorden Marinelli and Dominic & Marina DeLucchi and two great-grandchildren

Scarlett & Jeremiah Persijn. Karen also leaves her loving sisters, Bonnie Bertetta and Linda DeVille,

brother-in-law Fred Bertetta and many nieces and nephews. Karen was preceded in death by her

husband Ray, “the light of her heart,” who passed away in 1987, her parents, Spencer and Ellen

Pors, grandparents William and Mary Provan and Sjorn and Mary Pors, cherished mother-in-law,

Hilda Marinelli, dear brother-in-law, Tony DeVille Sr. and brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Mel

Marinelli.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the El Dorado County Humane Society:

www.eldoradohumanesociety.org.

A Memorial Mass will be held Friday, November 1, 2019 at 1:00pm at Our Lady of Angels Church in

Burlingame. A private burial will take place prior to the Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in

Colma, where Karen will be interred for eternal rest with her beloved husband, Ray and mother,

Ellen.

Karen’s family is grateful for the treatment and compassion provided by their Mom’s caregivers,

including: Dr. Alexander Massey, Dr. Helen Cheng, Dr. Rashmi Ramasubbaiah, Dr. Helen Chew, the

wonderful nursing staff in the ICU at Marshall Hospital and the Rescue Fire Department.