Marlene Cunningham

Marlene Marion dedicated her life to three things: Family, Friends, and Fun. Her children were her greatest treasure, and she taught them to live each day to the fullest. She was the happiest when she was with her family, and in their warm company a familiar smile always brimmed over her lips. With the crash of the stock market, the Great Depression spread throughout the country, affecting nearly one out of every four workers with unemployment. Although President Roosevelt initiated government programs to resuscitate the economy, the Great Depression ultimately ended with the onset of the Second World War. In Muskegon, Michigan, John Smith and his wife Beatrice Sweet maintained their positive spirits by looking toward a different future, the future of their family. They were expecting a child, and on May, 5, 1937 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their daughter Marlene. The third of six children, Marlene grew up in Muskegon with the company of her older sisters, Carol and Dolores, and her younger sisters, Bonnie, Judy, and Linda. While their mother tended to the house, their father provided for the family through his job at the paper mill. Marlene attended Muskegon High School where she fell in love with a young man. At the age of sixteen, they left school and got married. Although their marriage would end a few years later, their union was blessed with one child, their son Steve. On July 5, 1955 Marlene married Raymond Cunningham. He was eleven years her senior, and he brought three children of his own into the marriage. Marlene raised his children as if they were hers. She was a devoted, loyal mother, always eager to spend time with her family. After a few years of marriage, Marlene and Raymond were blessed with two children of their own. Clarence was born in 1962, followed by Rhonda in 1966. There was a significant age gap between the older children and the two youngestin fact it felt like two separate families! As the children remember, Dad was an outdoorsy kind of guy Mom was the fun one. She took her kids to the movie theater, carnivals, even Cedar Point. She was always on the lookout for a fun time, and she enjoyed playing all kinds of games. Marlene made the best pizzamatter of fact, she should have opened her own pizzeria! She also invited a number of pets into the household, including dogs, cats, reptiles, fish even a monkey! In the summertime, the entire family went on vacations to Bear Lake. They went by car, driving to the Upper Peninsula through Wisconsin. Although Marlene was a lot of fun, she was also a disciplinarian. She could say a lot with her eyes, and she had one look in particular that none of her children will forgetThe Death Look. When Marlene flashed this look, her children immediately knew that they were in trouble. This look scared kids awayliterally! When Clarence and Rhonda invited friends over, someone inevitably caught the Death Look. Convinced that Marlene hated them, they were reluctant to return to the Cunningham household unless, of course, a homemade pizza was being served. As the children grew older, Marlene and Ray discovered more time to spend with each other. They always had an active nightlife. They were active members in the Moose, Eagles, and Mona Shores Boat Club, and they also enjoyed playing card games. Much of their social life revolved around cards, and on vacations they would play with other couples until the wee hours of the morning. Marlene loved clothes, shoes, purses, and jewelryeven costume jewelry. She was, in short, a shopper extraordinaire. After she put on her face and perfected her hair, nothing could delay a shopping spree. Three or four times a week, she darted out the door, fast on her way to Catherines or Thrifty Acres. Nothing could stand in the way of her obsession, not even sickness. After an illness physically prevented her from shopping, she discovered QVC and the Home Shopping Network. Needless to say, these channels became her good friends in a hurry. Marlene was always on the go, and she always had a project up her sleeve. She loved to start projects, especially craftwork like knitting and crocheting, but she never finished them. She was a great beginner, always motivated and eager, but she was not a finisher, not even by a stretch. Halfway through a project, she would start on something new. She lost interest easily and loved change. For instance, she was constantly redecorating her house: she would change the dcor, the walls, even the floors. Her Christmas tree was something of a family joke. The ornaments were lovely, but time and again she would pick the scrawniest, most pathetic-looking tree! Year after year, she won the Ugliest Christmas Tree award. When Ray was diagnosed with arterial sclerosis, Marlene became his primary caretaker. Eleven years younger, she was able to look after his daily needs. He was confined to a wheelchair and had a limited capacity for speech and movement. As his illness progressed, Clarence and his new bride Nancy returned home to help Marlene with the caretaking. She loved the company, and she soon had even more company! She was officially a grandmother, and of course she was very eager to direct her shopaholic tendencies toward the familys newest member. Marlene was a devoted mother, a loving wife, and a doting grandma. She knew that life was an adventure, and she greeted each new day with a smile. Among the many people whose hearts she touched, she will be greatly missed and frequently remembered. Marlene died on Sunday, December 2, 2007. She is survived by 2 sons, Norman Cunningham, Clarence (Nancy) Cunningham, both of Muskegon; 3 daughters, Joyce Cunningham of Muskegon, Judy (Al) Hudson of Hart, Rhonda Richardson of Muskegon; 14 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Bonnie Ritter of GA, Judy Villereal of Muskegon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond in 1998; son, Steve in 1988; 3 sisters, Carole, Linda, Dolores. SERVICE Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 1:00 PM at the Clock Chapel with Pastor Ken Gentzler officiating. Interment at Mona View Cemetery. VISITATION Tuesday, 7-9 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. MEMORIAL: Charity of Choice or to the family. Please visit Marlenes personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.