Marian K Ruehlen

***UPDATE!!*** Due to rain and weather, the service location has been CHANGED to: North Dunedin Baptist Church 1595 Michigan Blvd. Dunedin, FL 34698 The time will remain the same, only the location has changed. Thank you! Marian Katherine Ruehlen, 87, formerly of Odessa, FL, passed away peacefully of complications due to lung disease at Westchester Gardens Rehabilitation Care Center in Clearwater, Florida. Born in Oyens, Iowa, she was raised with four brothers by their single mother Dora Welter. She married Gilbert Raveling and together they raised their five children Linda, Clyde, Allan, Janet and Paul in Florida. She worked as a homemaker, waitress and nursing assistant. After retirement she volunteered at a Hospice thrift store in Holiday, FL. She enjoyed traveling, reading, crossword puzzles, playing board games with her grandchildren, growing roses and listening to tales of her sons’ hunting adventures. Marian was spunky and goofy and had a sharp sense of humor that she maintained throughout her entire life. Despite serious illness, she was high-spirited and often had a smile or a mischievous smirk on her face. She loved joking around and had a feisty and sassy charisma about her. She had fortitude and a strong will to live and would “bounce back” many times when others would have counted her out. She was referred to as “The Rose of Sharon,” a desert plant that lies dormant for years. But when rain sets down, the roots grow and the plant blossoms once again. Survivors include four children: Linda Raveling of Holiday, FL, Allan (Peri) Raveling of Tarpon Springs, FL, Janet Winters of Durham, NC, and Paul (Debbie) Raveling of Odessa, FL; seven grandchildren: Rebecca (Michael) Zoumberos, Meredith (Joe) Burgents, Jason (Ela) Raveling, Ali Raveling, Garrett (Mandy) Raveling, Jessica Raveling and Arielle Raveling; and three great-granddaughters: Layla Raveling, Kenzee Raveling and Juliette Raveling. A gathering of friends and family will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, July 31 at Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, 2853 Sunset Point Rd, Clearwater, FL 33759. Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 1, 2015 with Pastor Joe Hancock at North Dunedin Baptist Church, 1595 Michigan Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698. A graveside memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, September 1 at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park Cemetery, 2853 Sunset Point Rd, Clearwater, FL 33759. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Suncoast Hospice Foundation, 5771 Roosevelt Boulevard, Clearwater, FL 33760