Marlene Ellen Smith, 89, of Marseilles, was welcomed with open arms into heaven by her husband, Robert Smith, and son, Jeffrey Smith, on Saturday, December 19, 2020.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Marseilles with Father Ghislain Inai officiating. Burial was in Riverview Cemetery in Marseilles. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Marlene was born on August 2, 1931, to Archibald and Loretta (McCormick) Samuels in Marseilles. Growing up in Marseilles, she worked at the dime store and then Bakelite in Ottawa.

In 1951, she married Robert Smith. Prior to their wedding a fire destroyed St. Joseph's church in Marseilles. Never one to admit defeat, the bride ensured that the wedding would still take place by simply moving the ceremony to the church's basement. Marlene looked absolutely radiant in her gown that was handmade with material brought back from France by her brother, Archibald Samuels, after serving as a bombardier pilot in WWII.

After staying home to raise her two children, she briefly sold real estate and finally was able to put her insatiable love of reading and learning to good use and worked at the Third District Appellate Court for 25 years until her retirement. Marlene was an avid reader, bridge player (with her bridge club that started after high school and continued throughout her life), Las Vegas traveler, and cat lover. She also volunteered at the Seattle Sutton Marseilles Museum.

She was survived by her two daughters Bobbye (Lee) Crum of Ottawa and Robyn (Michael) Bennett of Sycamore; two grandchildren, Ryan (Jessica) Crum of Ottawa and Stacey (Brandon Carter) Crum of Ottawa; three great-grandchildren, Harper, McKenna, and Lincoln; dear friends, Seattle Sutton, Sheila Womack, Doris Sobinsky, Ruthie Farrell, and Jon (Sue) Allen; and her beloved cats.

She was funny, kind, sometimes stubborn, and wildly independent and loved by all who knew her. She insisted that someday she would win the lottery. She made the best cinnamon rolls, fried chicken, and pumpkin pie that you can imagine. Marlene has left all of our hearts with a hole that can never be repaired.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family so that contributions can be evenly distributed between Pet Project and the Seattle Sutton Marseilles Museum.

Seals-Campbell Funeral Home

1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341

815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com