Erna Marreck
September 29, 1935 – March 5, 2020
Erna Maria Marreck (née Michel) passed away peacefully at home under hospice nurse care on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in the late morning, and surrounded by loved ones. A devoted wife and mother, she is survived by her husband Klaus D. Marreck, her children Peter Marreck and Andrea Galvez, her son’s life partner Stephanie Pilipie, her son-in-law Leonel Galvez and her grandkids Daniel and Victoria Galvez.
Born on September 29, 1935, she saw the end of World War 2 as a child from Germany’s perspective. At some point, she said that her family fled into a basement during an air raid, and an American bomb landed right next to the wall, but didn’t go off. Imagine only existing because of a LACK of American quality control…
Her rather difficult early life experiences may have informed the humorous cynicism she kept for the rest of her life, to the enjoyment (or chagrin) of all of the rest of us graced by her presence.
Her occupational career included working as a translator for the US Army, and as a travel agent, which permitted her to travel around the world and see many sights in an era when air travel was still fairly new (and airline seating surprisingly generous!) After marrying Klaus and having 2 children, she expertly managed the administration of multiple real estate investments while enjoying being a homemaker… Her signature dishes were German potato salad, Koenigsberger Klopse (German meatballs in a creamy caper sauce), chicken/beef cordon bleu, and a mishmash of leftovers spiced up with Maggi, because Erna insisted on never wasting any food!
She was always a faithful Catholic and was rarely without a cigarette nearby or a sharp-witted remark (usually funny) on the tip of her tongue. You always knew where you stood with Erna, because she would let you know, completely unadulterated!
Her enjoyments included suntanning, spinning a few slot machine wheels now and then at Atlantic City, Elvis Presley and the early rock & roll era, the occasional pinball game Peter installed on her computer, wearing a little bling, and making bawdy jokes.
She always put her family’s needs before her own, and we will all miss her dearly.
