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Light a Candle
Marlene was born October 20th of 1933 in Minneapolis MN to Wilbur and Margaret [Redacted]. She had 2 sisters named Dorie and Shirley, a stepsister, Delores, and a brother, Dave. Marlene attended North High in Minneapolis and was raised in the Sumner Field Housing Project until she was about 14, at which time the family moved to a small home in Coon Rapids Minnesota. At the age of 16 Marlene married her first husband, Warren Schultz who died tragically in a motorcycle accident in 1951. Shortly thereafter she met her second husband Gerald Pearson at a nightclub where he was working as a musician. In February of 1952 they got married. Soon after marriage they moved into an attic apartment on Dupont Ave in Minneapolis where their first son Gary was born, November 1952. In 1960 they purchased a home in Crystal MN where they raised Gary and their other 2 sons, Jerry and Bill. In 1980 Marlene went to work for the Robbinsdale School District for 20 years until her retirement in 2000. She spoken often of her love for the job and the friendships she had there. Marlene was a faithful Catholic who attended mass every Sunday. She did many good charitable acts for those in need, donating much of her time making clothes for the poor and dolls for children. Family meant so much to her, she was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She had 5 grandchildren--Jordan, Mathew, Michael, Steven, Allison--and 2 great grandchildren, Cole and Alexa. When her kids played Little League she was there to cheer them on. When the holidays came she cooked the big meal and gave her love. When one of her kids were down she was always there to cheer them with love and kind words. Marlene stayed happily married for 61 years until her husband's death in May of 2013. In October of the same year her grief was compounded when her eldest son Gary passed away. Marlene dealt all her life with a heart defect. When she was a young girl she often spent many weeks or months in the hospital for rest and treatment. But with the aid of 2 heart surgeries in adulthood Marlene continued to live an active and healthy life. Marlene passed peacefully on September 8th, 2021. Her wonderful behavior and gentle nature can never be erased from our hearts.
Marlene is survived by her sons Bill (Beverly) and Jerry; her sister Shirley (Roald), her daughter-in-law, Renee, sisters-in-law Beverly and Marianne; her grandchildren, Mathew, Jordan, Michael, Steven, Allison, and great grandchildren, Cole and Alexa; and her dear friends, Kay, Beana, and many nieces and nephews. Marlene is predeceased by her parents Margaret and Wilbur; her loving husband, Gerald, her son, Gary( Renee), her brother, Dave, sisters Dorie and Delores, sister-in-law Marlys, and brother in law, Donald. Marlene did not wish to have a funeral. Instead a memorial mass is planned for St Raphael's in Crystal MN, date yet to be determined. The family will notify loved ones in the future when a service is scheduled.
