Marketta Christine Bielinski

Marketta lived many of the early years of her life in Ridgway, IL. In her usual style of being a high achiever in everything she did, she graduated from Ridgway High School as Valedictorian of her senior class in 1954.

After her high school graduation in 1954, another highlight of that year for her was seeing Elvis Presley perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. It was to be his first and last appearance there where he was booed off stage by many of the people in the audience over his revved-up rendition of Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky”. And, of course, Marketta thought he was terrific! Over the years, she would often tell the story of how she saw Elvis perform before he became famous.

Marketta married Lonnie Bielinski on August 7, 1957. Her family has been told stories through the years of how they met and that they were “smitten” with one another. It was definitely love at first sight for them! They were married for nearly sixty-six years.

Marketta graduated from Chaffey College School of Nursing in Alta Loma, CA…with honors, of course! She was employed by Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, CA. Through her many years of employment as a Registered Nurse there, she worked in the Operating Room, in Hospice care and in the ENT clinic. Marketta was a member of UNAC (United Nurses Association of California) and continued her membership in the organization well into her retirement years.

Marketta was actively involved with the Catholic churches she attended over the years. Some of the church ministries she participated in were the Bereavement Ministry and the Ministry to the Sick and Elderly. She was dedicated to these ministries and loved by those she touched through them. Marketta was also a graduate of the Diocese of San Bernardino Straling Leadership Institute. She was presented with the Our Lady of Guadalupe award in May of 2014. This award is given to those individuals from within the church parish or diocese who demonstrate exemplary generosity, leadership or service for the common good of the diocese or local community.

Marketta loved traveling, whether it be in a motor home or on car trips with Lonnie to various places across our country, visiting family in the Midwest or visiting parts of Europe with Lonnie and her church family. She also enjoyed traveling to Hawaii with family to celebrate her and Lonnie’s 40th and 50th wedding anniversaries. Her daughters fondly remember the “girls’” road trips she would take them on. She always planned these trips herself and made sure her girls would wake up early each morning to get started on their adventures for each new day. For Marketta’s 85th birthday, her family took her to visit Vashon Island, WA…a place she had always wanted to see. Marketta enjoyed her flower gardens, reading, hosting tea parties in her home and visiting tea houses with her family and friends for special celebrations. She also enjoyed watching sports on television and taking the train into Los Angeles with her friends to visit various places there.

Marketta will always be fondly remembered by each generation in her family for the fun family gatherings she would put together and for all the delicious and varied food she would cook for each gathering. She will also be remembered for her great sense of humor, high intellect and her beautiful smile.

She is survived by her husband Lonnie of nearly 66 years, daughters Debby (Bill) Lardi, Lori Kintzer, Michelle Bray, Lisa Bielinski, Natalie (Erick) Legner, daughter-in-law Wendi Bielinski, grandchildren Stephen (Ginger Koblasz) Bray, Michael Lardi, Jonathan (Lia) Bray, Erin (Jason) Wilson, Mandy (Michael Baggett) Abbey, Andrew Legner and Christian Bielinski, and great-grandson Cameron Abbey and many nieces & nephews.

Marketta was preceded in death by her parents, son John, brother David Anaya and stepsister Yolanda Anaya Macklis.

Marketta’s family wishes to thank her hospice caregivers, Jonathan Greer, M.D., Aqueelah Richmond, M.D. and the entire hospice team for taking such good care of her. They were truly a blessing to her family.

For those wishing to do so, the family requests donations be given to Kaiser Foundation Hospital Bereavement Services in memory of Marketta. Checks can be made payable to Kaiser Foundation Hospital and mailed to:

Kaiser Permanente

Bereavement Services

17284 Slover Ave, Dept 105

Fontana, CA 92337-7584