Marion Inez Woelbing

Marion Inez (Smith) Woelbing: Born May 8, 1934. Loving wife of the late Donald Woelbing, mother of Paul and Eric (the late Debbie) and grandmother of Jayme and Ashley Woelbing. Daughter of Raymond Smith and Cecile (Washechek) Smith, sister to Raymond Smith, Beverly (Smith) Olsen, and Wayne Smith. While this obituary is about Marion, it's hard to separate her from Donald as the two were partners in the truest sense of the word. Marion and Donald met while in high school, were married for 55 years and best friends for life. When asked if the two of them ever disagreed, Marion's response was, "About what? We pretty much agreed upon everything and in those rare instances where we didn't, we deferred to whomever felt the strongest." Marion's first passion was for dogs which started in childhood. While they were pets treated as four-legged family members, because of her natural ability to recognize exceptional animals, Marion had several nationally recognized AKC grand champions which she picked as puppies. Together Marion and Donald developed and interest in early American furniture. They became experts culminating in the building of their home Thorntree to house their exceptional collection of late seventeenth century through mid eighteenth century furniture, paintings and crafts. Marion and Donald acted as surrogate parents for Julia Albrecht who along with the exceptionally kind care of Katherine Hern, Emily Hern, Sharron Smothers, Linda Fernandez and the rest of her Stowell friends helped her find a new meaning to life in the absence of Donald. Additionally we would like to recognize Nancy Braun for being our mother's supportive friend for more than fifty eight years. Finally, as the mechanism of Marion's life slowly comes to a stop, she will be remembered for her sense of humor and generous, loving, kindness which she taught us through example. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you please make a donation to the American Red Cross or your local Humane Society. Visitation Thursday 4-8 pm at the Max A. Sass & Sons Mission Hills Chapel. Private entombment Arlington Park Cemetery.