Marilyn Joy Seitz

A Celebration of Life and Resurrection will be held for Marilyn Joy (Steffen) Seitz on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California. A Graveside Service will follow at 3:00 p.m. Marilyn died in her home on Tuesday, February 18, 2014. She was 82 ½ years old. She was surrounded physically by her Daughter, Kerrie, and her Son, Grant, as well as prayerfully by her oldest Son, Gregg in China, and her Daughters Kathi and Karen along with many other relatives across the United States.

Marilyn was born on July 3, 1931 in Omaha, Nebraska to Hulda (Jetter) Steffen and Otto Joseph Steffen. She was the youngest child of four children. Her arrival into the world the day before the Fourth of July brought an appropriate new excitement to her family. They were glad to welcome a girl into the family! Marilyn grew up in Omaha surrounded by her family and friends. She adored her three older brothers, Arnold, Paul, and Norman, and she was especially close to her Maternal Grandmother Bertha (Jetter). She attended First Lutheran Church in Omaha, graduated from Omaha Tech High School, and attended college. Shortly thereafter she fell in love with the love of her life, Gregory (Greg) A. Seitz. Greg’s parents and Marilyn’s parents knew one another from First Lutheran. Greg’s family had moved to Southern California when he was a young boy, but as time passed, he and Marilyn got to know one another as adults. They were married at First Lutheran Church in Omaha on June 3, 1951. For their honeymoon trip they drove to Southern California where they were able to settle down and make a home.

Marilyn grew up in a large, “beautiful brick home” in Omaha, and loved to spend hours playing with dolls in the attic with her girlfriend. In her later years she remembers, “We were great mothers with our dolls – we put them to bed, fed them, gave them little bottles, had regular little houses we made up there with the beds for them and what have you. We had great big windows, one on either side of the attic that we made into our little houses.” This love of motherhood and caring for children established the legacy that she holds dear. Marilyn and Greg had five children; all of whom love her and have great Christian faith. This is Marilyn’s legacy.

Marilyn was proceeded in death by her husband, Greg; parents, Hulda and Otto; her three brothers, Arnie, Paul, Norm and sister-in-law Kay; and her niece, Debra Steffen. She leaves behind her children: Daughter Karen (Seitz) Wright, son-in-law Damon Wright, grandchildren Rebecca Wright and Joshua Wright, great-granddaughter Gracie Wright; Daughter Kathleen (Seitz) Anthony, son-in-law Dave Anthony; Son Gregg Seitz, daughter-in-law Lee; Daughter Kerrie Seitz; and Son Grant Seitz. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, two sister-in-laws Betty Steffen and LeClare Steffen, cousins, and friends.

The family would like to thank all of the physicians who have taken care of our Mom over the years – especially Dr. Glen Ehressmann of USC, and Dr. Anthony Scardino of Thousand Oaks. Special thanks to Buena Vista Palliative Care & Home Health Inc. and Buena Vista Hospice Care, Inc. who have assisted our Mom’s transition to Heaven with comfort and dignity. A Christian woman of great faith her whole life, we will miss our beloved Mother whose love, smile, and laughter always graced our lives.

The family requests that remembrances may be made in Marilyn’s memory to the American Cancer Society. We thank you for your love and prayers in her honor.