Marsha Jane Koehler

Marsha Jane Koehler It is with a heavy heart that we announce Marsha Jane Koehler passed away on September 21st, 2025, at peace in her home. Marsha was born on December 16, 1938, in upstate New York and moved to California with her husband, Richard M. Betts, when she was 19. They ultimately settled in Berkeley, California, where they raised their family. She went on to live in Oakland, Richmond, and retired in Rossmoor, Walnut Creek.

She was raised Catholic, but became Buddhist in mid-life. She enjoyed both religions. She is survived by her cousin Pat Solomon, her son, Andrew Betts (Raquel), her daughter, Julie Betts (Chris), her grandsons, Antonio (Haydee) and Ricky, and her great grandson, Liam, and her sister-in-law Mina Koehler, nieces and nephews, Renee, Ryan, Jeff, and David, as well as her ex-husband Richard M. Betts (Laura). She is predeceased by her brothers, Rodney Koehler (Renata), and Allen Koehler (Mina).

She studied the Japanese language, as well as Spanish, and she learned new languages very easily. Her husband got his pilots license, and she got her training to be able to land the airplane in an emergency. She loved cooking, sewing, crocheting, visiting with her local friends, emailing her friends across the country, watching Hallmark movies, cats and dogs, and photography, and had won awards for her photographs at the Berkeley Camera Club.

At the age of 58, she underwent a successful heart transplant. She was very lucky to receive a donor heart from a 15-year-old angel, named Danielle. Thanks to this gift from Danielle's family, and the wonderful care from the Kaiser transplant team and UCSF, she lived another 28 years. She got to spend time getting to know her grandchildren and great grandchild. This is truly what she was living for and she was so happy to be a part of their family, and her extended families.

She retired from her work as a Medical Transcriptionist with both Alta Bates Summit and Kaiser, and moved to Rossmoor about 15 years ago. She volunteered at the Rossmoor Sewing Club, and Octoberfest in Clayton. She was a regular member of the Rossmoor singing group, and occasional member of the Hawaiian Club and the Italian Club. She was a social butterfly. She was truly a remarkable person, with a beautiful heart, pre- and post-transplant, and will be deeply missed, but carried in our hearts forever!

Please join us at her Celebration of Life on October 17th, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Oak Park Hills Chapel, 3111 N. Main Street, Walnut Creek.

We hold you close within our hearts And there you shall remain, To walk with us throughout our lives Until we meet again.