Marilyn Porzelius 1933 - 2016

Marilyn E. Porzelius, 83, of Chenoa, Ill., formerly of Gridley, died at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Center, rural Chenoa.

She was born March 10, 1933, in Amity Township, Livingston County. She married Fredrick J. Porzelius on July 24, 1954, at Salem Church, rural Gridley. He died on Dec. 9, 2014.

Also surviving are:
• a daughter, Jane (Ron) Smaga, Bloomingdale, and their children, Nick (Dana) Smaga, Jackie (Nate) Schroeder and Jim Smaga;
• a daughter, Janet (Tim) Schumacher, Bluffton, Ohio, and their children, Hannah, Isaac (Trusty) Schumacher, Lily, Joseph and Levi;
• a son, Tom (Kathy) Porzelius, Gridley, and their children, Kayla (Keith) Belzer, Aaron Porzelius, Juan (Miranda) Hernandez, and Noah (Amy) Porzelius;
• a son, Paul (Dorothy) Porzelius, and their children, Becky (Mike Burns) Maubach; Brooke (Joe Bounds) Evans, Paige (Chas Sollars) Porzelius, Staci (Cody) Linebarger, and Natalie and Ben Jenkins; great-grandchildren, Ava Evans, Kendall Jenkins, Bailey Sollars, Zoey Schroeder, Christian Clark, Mikkell Knock, Victor Belzer, Samuel Burns, and Josh and Mimi, with three on the way, including Daniel Fredrick Smaga;
• four brothers, Melvin (Lorraine) Frobish, Flanagan; Lowell (Florence) Frobish, Auburn, Ala.; Russell (Diane) Frobish, Laurel, Md.; and Paul (Carol) Frobish, Gardner; and one brother-in-law, Ernest Porzelius, Bluffton, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Marilyn graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1954 with her registered nursing degree. Marilyn worked as an obstetric nurse at St. James Hospital, Pontiac. She also was the public health nurse for many years in Livingston County. She also worked at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Center, Chenoa, for 25 years. She was a member of Prairieview Mennonite Women’s Auxiliary and Meadows Homes Women’s Auxiliary.

She was a member of the Prairieview Mennonite Church, rural Gridley, where funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. The Rev. Jane Roeschley and Pastor Patrick Embley will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Prairieview Mennonite Family Life Center. Private family burial will be in Waldo Township Cemetery, rural Gridley. Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, El Paso, is handling arrangements for the family.

Memorials may be made to Prairieview Mennonite Church, Meadows Mennonite Retirement Center or American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be directed to her family at www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.