Marlene J. Totaro

Loving wife of the late Edward J. Totaro; beloved mother to Laura Walsh, Kathryn Totaro, Karen Totaro, and Steven (Leslie) Totaro; cherished grandmother to Sydney, Ellen, Gwenyth, and Kaitlin; devoted daughter of the late Elizabeth and Paul Thompson, and a dear sister to Jean Zencka and Christine Bess.
Marlene passed away peacefully in her sleep with family by her side. She was born on the south side of Chicago where she spent her entire life. She married Edward, the love of her life, in June 1959. Together they created a home of faith, love, service, compassion and laughter.
Marlene had a 24 year career with the Chicago Public Library system that included long time service at the Back of the Yards and Hild branches and 9 years managing Secondhand Prose, the systems' first used bookstore. This path was sparked by her volunteer service as the librarian and learning resource center coordinator at St. George elementary school in Bridgeport. Marlene was also very active in the St. George Women's Club, spending many hours helping organize bingo games, bunco parties, bazaars, carnivals and picnics to support the school and parish. She also took on the role as one of the girl scout troop leaders at the school Family was most important though. She was a care-giver to her husband, mother and other family members dealing with extended illness. Marlene was the family genealogist preserving details and photos of extended family history. Some of her greatest joy in later life was time spent with her granddaughters. Her home was a special place at Christmas with lovingly and creatively wrapped packages to surprise and delight, games and scavenger hunts, and favorite foods and treats. She will be remembered for her quiet kindness, for always thinking of others before herself and for her strong faith and love of family. Memorials are preferred to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls ( https://www.mercyhome.org/) or St. Jude’s (https://www.stjude.org/).
Visitation Monday, May 5th from 9 a.m. until time of Funeral Mass 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Holy Family Church. Cremation Oak Ridge Cemetery.
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