Marianne M. Krieger

“Thank you” is a miraculous expression. We feel good when we say it, and we feel good when we hear it. . . . When we speak or hear the words “thank you," the armor falls from our hearts and we communicate on the deepest level. -Daisaku Ikeda

It is with great sorrow that we are here today to announce the passing of Marianne Kreiger, who left us unexpectedly on January 2nd, 2025. She was only 47. But despite departing us at such a young age, she spent each second to the fullest and made sure to express her love and happiness to everyone around.

She was born on January 22nd, 1977, the second of four children of Roberto and Maria Manlangit in Manila, Philippines and she was just fourteen when her father got a job in California. The move was a very difficult transition for her and truth be told, she struggled to accept it. Her denial came into fruition when after middle school, she went across the country to Illinois where she wanted to find her identity and her stance in life. There, she lived in Chicago for about a year. But her love for her family brought her back to California, and soon enough, California became her home. And to her, that was something worth fighting for.

Immediately, after graduating Morse High School, she joined the Navy, only 18 years old. Her experience in high school ROTC allowed that transition to be easy. What piqued her interest in the Navy? Some little bird might state she was attempting to mend a broken heart, maybe from a relationship in high school but I would like to think it was because she finally found a place to call her home and she would do everything she can to guarantee the safety of it and all those she loved. So, for ten years, she fought for this country. She found a new sense of pride, independence, and developed friendships that lasted the test of time. And afterwards, she came back to her home. Once settled in San Diego, she found brief employment at a Sheraton hotel where she would work for about a year. And then, all of a sudden, googly eyes and all, she found the love of her life: the DMV. Man, nothing was better than getting great benefits from working for the government and taking her sweet time with the many angry people in long lines. All jokes aside, she found her niche working at the DMV and it was around then where she did meet the actual love of her life, Tom Kreiger. Only a few months after they were introduced, they got married in September 2007 and never looked back. With her new husband and plenty of friends and family, she traveled the world, tasted all kinds of foods, and managed to gather quite an impressive shot glass and snowglobe collection. And most importantly, she became an amazing aunt, very passionate and outspoken about everything she loves, and a great dog mom.

Unfortunately, her world took a turn in 2020, when coronavirus came forward. Already battling diabetes, she eventually became a victim of the pandemic and the disease took so much from her. It took the eyes she used to observe the beautiful world around her, her feet she used to travel from country to country, and her voice. Nothing compared to her laughter, that bounced through the walls, declaring all around her to be happy, and that was taken from her. But she fought back. Against all odds, she fought back against the disease and despite hospital visit after hospital visit, she remained strong. She found a reason to smile again. And that smile lasted until the very end.

She is survived by us, her family: her loving husband, her two outgoing sisters, her “baby” brother, her caring mom, and her BEAUTIFUL nieces. And it is by us, her family, that we would like to give her a final moment of gratitude. As you, Marianne Krieger, spent every second on this world, thanking life for everything it gave you, we would like to take a second to express the same to you.

Thank you, Marianne or ate Anne (what her nieces call her), for being a rock in the family: an absolutely unbreakable spirit and truly someone to go to when life gets a little rough. Even if the issue is a little trivial, like us complaining about a food order, we always knew you’d join us in our little cause. You would fight alongside us, no matter the hardship.

Thank you for showing our whole family what it’s like to be proud and unashamed of who you are. You have inspired each one of us to be the same.

Thank you for showing us what true love is. You taught us to never settle for less.

And finally, thank you for fighting against all odds the last three years, fighting hard for more time with the family you love. I hope wherever you are, that you found peace, finally reunited with your dad and your baby, Rionna, and that you would never need to fight again.