Marcella Gleason

Marcella (Marci) Gleason, beloved wife of the late Frank Gleason Jr. and mother to 7 children, including treasured son Frank Gleason III who preceded her in death, passed away on June 6, 2024. She is survived by her sisters Mary Ann Cantrell, Gerry Hoehn and Elaine Kachelmyer; daughters Miriam Almog (Kobi Almog), Bridget Gleason, Stacey Gleason (Raul Galarza), Molly Cox (Stephen Cox), Julia Ritter (Peter Ritter), Abby Gleason (Rama Divakaruni d. May 27, 2024) and close friend, confidante and 7th daughter Lisa Simpson (Mike Hollender); grandchildren Jennifer Gleason (Ronny Sevenhant) , Frank Gleason IV (Jaime Gleason), Sarah Wohlgemuth (Rudy Wohlgemuth), Astrid O’Neil (Tommy O’Neil), Oren Levy (Nikia Griffith), Ilanna Benyaminson (Eliyahu Benyaminson), Andrew Reid (Brianna Conroy), Mark Reid (Sharmila Jesupaul), Shelby Cox (Matthew Luna), Mackenzie Cox, Erin Cox, Michael Ritter, Matthew Ritter, Katherine Ritter; 10 great grandchildren and all of the many friends and family, who she held close to her heart.

Marci was born at home in St Louis, Missouri on July 11, 1929 surrounded by a loving family and a close knit Polish-American community. She took great pride in her heritage, and brought the music, language and food with her wherever she went. Marci and Frank’s Polish sausage-making parties were legendary. There is nothing Marci enjoyed more than bringing people together. She applied her flair for organization to service; she was a dedicated volunteer at the Orthopedic Hospital in Los Angeles and led and participated in many committees to support her church and community events, among other endeavors.

Marci’s interests ranged far and wide. She loved the poems of Robert W. Service and the music of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. She read voraciously and passed on this habit to her children, who are also lifelong readers. She wanted to experience the world, every last bit of it, from opera houses in Paris to breaking ice in Antarctica. She radiated elegance inside and out, having the clothes and style for every occasion.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Lawrence Martyr Church, where she was a parishioner for more than 50 years. As long as she was able, she was a member of the “Six Fifteeners,” who met for mass every morning, followed by coffee, pastries and the company of friends.

She and her family are thankful for the fellowship and care of Monsignor Peter O’Reilly and of Monsignor Michael F. Lenihan (d. March 23, 2011) before him. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Lawrence Martyr School for Families Needing Financial Assistance at https://stlm.org/gleason

Marci was most happy at home, surrounded by her flowers and looking out at her ocean. This is where she left us, with family at her side, and love all around.