Marlene Dora Freetly

Marlene Dora (Branstetter) Freetly passed away on November 10, 2022, at her home in Petaluma, California, at the age of 85. Marlene was born on December 2, 1936, in French Camp (Stockton), California, to Thomas and Arvella (Miller) Branstetter. She attended schools in Lodi, CA, graduating from Lodi High School in 1954. On September 6, 1958, Marlene married her high school sweetheart, Harvey A. Freetly, and they were married for forty-eight years until Harvey’s death in 2006.

Although talented in many things, Marlene felt her greatest accomplishments were being a wife and a mother. When she had time, she loved reading novels, sewing, crocheting, and knitting. She was also a bookkeeper and was treasurer for many organizations. Once her children were in high school, she rejoined the workforce, ultimately working for the County of Marin, CA, retiring as the Chief Fiscal Officer of the Department of Health and Human Services in 2020. She also served for twenty-two years on the board of directors for the Marin County Federal Credit Union.

Marlene and Harvey moved from Lodi to Nicasio, CA, in 1961, where they raised their two children until moving to Petaluma, CA, in 1976. While in Nicasio, she was actively involved in the 4-H program and served as a project leader and on many countywide committees. 4-H was a family affair, and Marlene drove her children to project meetings, activities, chaperoned at 4-H camp, and camped out in the motorhome at fairs so her children could be onsite to show their sheep, rabbits, and pigs. Harvey and Marlene were active in Rotary, and together they were instrumental in establishing the Rotary Dictionary Project. They enjoyed growing roses and irises and had hundreds of iris varieties at their home outside of Petaluma. They also enjoyed traveling throughout North America, Central America, Europe, Russia, and China.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister in-law, Thomas “Clinton” and Marilu Branstetter, and her husband, Harvey. She is survived by her children, Harvey C. Freetly (Constance Malloy) and Shelley Blotter (Tom); her grandchildren, James Freetly (Laura Ferdinand), Thomas Freetly, and Kelsey Blotter; her niece, Linda Patterson (Rex), and their children, Melissa Yago and Jered Patterson; her sister and brother-in-law, Jean and David McCubbin, and their children, Charlene Behrens, Lynn McCubbin, and Jeff (Jennifer) McCubbin; as well as several cousins and extended family.

The family extends a special thank you to Kasanita Dreu Avoi of Agape Quality Care, Yuba City, CA, who provided loving, personal in-home care to Marlene for the past five years.

A memorial service celebration of life will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 455 McNear Ave, Petaluma, CA, on December 14, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Refreshments will follow in the fellowship hall.

The family welcomes contributions in memory of Marlene Freetly to the Rotary Club of Petaluma (http://portal.clubrunner.ca/10088/page/give) to the Petaluma Area Dictionaries for Third Graders program, the American Cancer Society, or a favorite charity of your choice.

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Memorial Service

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

2:00 PM

St. John Lutheran Church