Marlene Ann Goodell

Marlene Ann Goodell, 64, was called home to the Lord August 25th, 2018. Marlene was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer on July 14th, 2018. The family is saddened by the passing but grateful she was did not have to live with the disease longer, as her vivacious personality would not have tolerated much inactivity.

Marlene was born to the late John and Virginia Zarecki on February 9th, 1954 in Sewickley, PA. She grew up on Neville Island, PA and graduated from Cornell Senior High School in 1972. After high school she attended Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to study Psychology and Sociology. After graduating she moved out west to pursue a summer dance program and the California life.

Marlene settled in the High Desert in 1980 where she raised her daughter Lindsay and owned/operated a dance studio for the next 13 years. She taught jazz, tap, ballet, and occasionally baton and modern dance. Students competed in many regional competitions as well as those performances hosted by the studio itself. She was a patient and empathetic teacher to many.

When the dance studio closed in the mid 1990s Marlene went on to substitute teach and pursue an advanced degree. She earned her Masters of Public Administration degree in 2001. She then switched gears and was a staff analyst for the County of San Bernardino working in various departments until her retirement in 2012.

In 1999 she met the love of her life Gary Goodell. They were married in 2001. Between Gary's three children and Marlene's daughter they saw 13 grandkids come into their family! Marlene loved being grandma more than any of the other jobs she had to that point. All of the kids, be they biologically related or married in or adopted in were loved equally and so much in the Goodell house!

In retirement Marlene stayed an active participant in her church small group, community betterment projects of all kinds, and wrote a book about her life growing up on Neville Island in the 1960s. Marlene was never the kind to sit still for long and will be missed by many, but her influence on all those she came in contact with will not soon be forgotten.

Preceding Marlene in death were her parents, John and Virginia Zarecki. She is survived by her husband Gary of Phelan, Ca, her daughter Lindsay Wood (Dan) and their children Brady and Bailey of Arvada, Wyoming, two brothers John (Elizabeth) of Riverside Ca and Phil of Coreapolis, PA, her step children Garth Goodell of Riverside, Ca, Jennifer Thompson of Hesperia, Ca and Tyler Goodell of Victorville, Ca; and the Goodell grandchildren.

Services will be held at High Desert Church in Victorville on Sept 6th at 11:00 am. Internment will be at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Ca.