Marleen “Marlie” (Goulet) Oradei was born Nov. 1, 1935, and grew up on the Iron Range in Buhl, Minn. As the oldest of five, she helped raise her siblings, but still found time to “play house” in the woods- something she loved doing. In school she learned to play the clarinet so she could get into the football games without paying the five cent admission. She was the Valedictorian of her High School class, and went on to get her RN degree from St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn. There, she met her husband of over 63 years, Bruce Oradei. They married in Sept.r 1957 and together started a family of their own, raising five children.
Marleen worked as a nurse for many years. Her favorite position was in the maternity ward taking care of the new mothers. She remembered the day her first grandchild was born, saying “Grandma’s don’t work!”
Her passion was re-arranging the furniture in her home (and without permission in her children’s homes!). At age 40, Marleen went back to school and received her B.S. in English from Edgewood College, Wis. She was an accomplished artist, filling the walls of her and her children’s homes with watercolor landscapes and flowers.
She was a fierce advocate for people, negotiating the first nurse’s union contract in Ashland, Wis., and teaching her children to stand up for themselves. She demanded that Title IX (9) be active in her oldest daughter’s high school, making sure the girls were provided uniforms for their sports and banquets too. She told her sons to never start a fight, but make sure they finished it!
Marlie loved drinking coffee, lots of coffee, leaving a lipstick print so we knew whose cup was hers. She talked non-stop, laughed joyously, and always had a hug and a kiss for you. She made everyone feel welcome, making sure even the last-minute guest at Christmas had a gift under the tree.
She was a grand story-teller, regaling her grandchildren with tales while walking on trails near their last cabin on Lake Alice, Wis. She made life quite the adventure for us all, including running a hose from the kitchen sink to a bathtub on the deck so warm bubble-baths could be taken outdoors. At age 70 she got her first tattoo, flowers of course!
Marleen was greeted in heaven by her parents, Emmanuel and Leone Goulet, her brothers, Dan and Manley, and her beloved first born, Mary.
She is survived by her loving husband, Bruce and children Dan (Corky), Manny (Marianne), Ann (Harry), Sally (John), son-in-law Mark (Carol), and grandchildren Katrina, Emily, Karali, Lexi, Joe, Alia, Sarah, Kyle, Ben and Nick, and great-grandchildren Gavin and Becka, will all miss her dearly.
Memorial Services for Marleen Oradei will be held 1 p.m., Saturday, July 25, 2020 at the Generations Funeral Home in Tomahawk. Pastor Susan Christian will officiate. Marleen’s family will receive friends for visitation on Saturday the 25th from 11 a.m. until the time of services at 1 p.m.
We will be following social distancing guidelines; masks are recommended and are also provided by Generations. If you are unable to attend the Memorial Service at the funeral home, you can go to www.generationsfuneral.com and go to Marleen’s obituary page. A livestream link will appear on her obituary page at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. Click on the livestream link and you will be able to watch her memorial service live from the comfort of your home. Generations Funeral Home and Crematory of Tomahawk is in charge of arrangements.