2010 Golonsky Family Update

Wow… It’s been almost a year, since my mom’s passing on Feb. 7, 2010 and a lot of things have happened for the Golonsky Family in this year…

For starters, my mom and dad’s home in Lindsay, CA was put on the market in April. At which time, my mom and dad’s oldest grandson, Elijah and his family decided they would like to buy the family home. (My mom would have LOVED this idea, so I’m sure she had something to do with the matter :)

As for my Dad, my mom’s wish for him was that he would return “home” to their place in Susanville… where my mom and dad had started their lives and family together… So, in April my Dad and Dawn started the process of purchasing a small manufactured log cabin for my Dad to call home.

Also, in April, the wait for Emily Marleen Castanon was over… she arrived on the date my mom had personal picked… April 19, 2010. My dad came to visit his new granddaughter, then returned back to Susanville to live in his 5th-wheel, while his new home was being built.

In July, once my dad’s place was almost done, Dawn took most of his grandkids (Elijah, Matthew, Kaleb, and Madison) to visit…(What fun they had! A plane flight, train ride, and small road trip all in one visit to “Grandpa’s”.)

After they returned, Dawn had the duty of packing-up my mom’s “LIFE” (her classroom)…, which wasn’t an easy task for many reasons… However, my mom’s former aide and good friend, Amy, helped to complete such. (In fact, she couldn’t have done it without her!) Now, Amy’s husband’s office has a room full from floor to ceiling with my mom’s great classroom treasures… (going through it will be Dawn’s summer job this coming year :)

In September, everyone was back in school… and it started to seem like things were getting back to “normal”, since the loss of my mom. Yet, then… the holiday season began shortly…

In November , for Thanksgiving, my dad, us “kids”, and grandchildren all gathered at Matt’s house for some family time together. (I know my mom would have been so proud of all of us… ! Her “list” of things to do was almost complete…)

Then, my Dad and Dawn helped Laura’s family move into their new family home, in Visalia. It’s a beautiful two-story house with a pool for summer fun! (It’s perfect for them!)

For Christmas, Matt’s family visited Mireya’s family in Mexico… so our family missed not only my mom but Matt’s family for Christmas. However, the rest of us gathered at Laura’s place for a new Christmas tradition.

Andrew’s family continues to do well… and live near the Santa Barbara area.

Ben will be leaving to Alaska in January to work at a Sea Port… (We are hoping that he has found something that he will finally thieve with…)

I hope this New Year brings us and your family good health and much peace!

Love, Marleen’s Family: “ The Golonskys”

Relay for Life

Celebrating a New Life

Emily Marleen has finally arrived at 8lbs 2oz, this morning. This is the little one we had all been waiting for...

Welcome Emily! We're so glad you're here!

Love

This blog was dedicated to my mom during her final journey, here on earth, where she continued to teach us all "True Love"...

Our family would like to THANK YOU for all of your love and support throughout the years... May you now "Pay it Forward" in honor of my mom!

As this chapter closes... Let us open a new one...

Much love and as my mom would say "I'll love you forever and for always!"

Many thanks,
Marleen's Family

"Happiest Memories on Earth"

In Honor of My Mom

My family will be going to Disneyland this Saturday in honor of my mom. It is a place where we hold "the happiest memories on earth" with her...

Put to Rest

Disneyland, "The Happiest Place on Earth"... yet now my mom is in the Happiest Place... HEAVEN

Friends Forever... the FBC's last group picture

Eulogy

By Kathy Jablonski

Everyone that has ever met Marleen will smile when they hear her name.

I met Marleen in first grade at Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School in San Pedro. We quickly became friends with Phyllis D’Ambra and Kathy Brock. We continued with that friendship all the way through elementary school. There was only one Catholic girl’s high school in San Pedro and so we met our new friends Donna Hirn, Claudia Calandrino, Rose Mary Franklin, Corozon Barnett, and Annette Sickatich. We had many adventures in high school, but I am not going to talk about those adventures today. Just know that we had wonderful high school years.

We got busy getting our first two years of college out of the way and then we moved to San Jose to finish college. We all had full time jobs and took as many classes as we could get. These were the years that the servicemen were returning from Vietnam. Marleen wrote her own major at San Jose and it was a new idea at the time.

Marleen was meant to teach special education. Her first love was her family, but her second love was teaching. She had a lot of insight on what was important to teach. Donna and I would come home from work or school and the phone would ring. When we answered it there was just heavy breathing at the other end. Was it a stalker? No, it was one of Marleen’s special education students learning to use a phone for the first time.

When we graduated we went our separate ways for the first time. Marleen joined the peace corp, learned to speak Arabic and went to Morocco to teach classes for the Moroccan children.

When Marleen returned from the peace corp she decided to come to Susanville to figure out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. She met my next door neighbor, the very handsome and recently returned from Vietnam vet, Joe Golonsky. About the same time I met someone in Susanville that I was really serious about, Tom Jablonski. We both got married in 1976 about five weeks apart. Do you know how much confusion there is in a small town when we changed our names from Marincovich and Schafer to Golonsky and Jablonski?

After Marleen and Joe’s oldest daughter, Dawn, was born, they moved to Lindsay where they had Matt, Andrew, Laura, and Ben. They would make the trip back to Susanville whenever they could because Joe’s dad still lived there.

When our children got a little older, we girls planned different trips over long weekends to different places but mostly to San Francisco, Corozon’s home. We loved getting together in San Francisco, but we could have gotten together anywhere and enjoyed each other’s company. We shared happy and sad stories about our families and loved ones. We spent most of the time catching up on each other’s lives.

About this same time, Marleen went back to work and decorated every corner of her classroom in bright colors, pictures, and beautiful quilts she had collected. She loved teaching and each of her students was very special to her.

One of the greatest pleasures in Marleen’s life was her grandchildren. She has six beautiful grandchildren, Elijah, Matthew, Kaleb, Madison, Mason, and Selah and another beautiful grandchild, Emily Marleen on the way.

Marleen leaves behind her parents Andrew and Matilda Marincovich, her two sisters Andrea and Debbie and many nieces and nephews. Other special people in her family are Mireya, who helped care for her in the last few moments of her life, Hector, Ida, Matt-Matt, and Hailey.

Her beloved Joe and her children would like to thank you for coming and for your support throughout her illness.

We know you are still Marleen and you will be forever in our hearts. We look forward to seeing you in heaven.

Next Time it's Forever!!! We LOVE you Mom!!!

Marleen Marincovich Golonsky returned to her home in Heaven on February 7, 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in San Pedro, California on November 6, 1947 and married her wonderful husband Joseph, on November 5, 1976. They have five children, Dawn, Matthew, Andrew, Laura and Benjamin, and 6 grandchildren, Elijah, Matthew, Kaleb, Madison, Selah, and Mason. A new granddaughter, Emily Marleen, will be arriving in April. Marleen also leaves behind her parents, Andrew and Matilda Marincovich of Long Beach, her sisters Andrea and Debbie and their families. She accomplished many things during her time with us. While in the Peace Corps, she learned the Arabic language and established a school for children in a remote area of Morocco. Marleen went on to become a Special Education Teacher for the Tulare County Schools and was awarded "Teacher of the Year, 2009". But of all her achievements, she was most proud of her loving family.

She will be missed by all who had the privilege to know her: family, friends, coworkers, and students. Because she touched our lives, she will live on through our many memories of her. A Funeral mass will be held at the St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Porterville, California on Feburary 12, 2010 at 11:00am. Following the service, she will be put to rest with her beloved Nicko and Jonathon at the Porterville cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Dawn Golonsky who will forward the charitable contributions. Her address is P.O. Box 1413, Avalon, Calif. 90704.

True Love

As I sit here... and listen to my family members snore... I know my mom gave me the world and more... She and my dad have shown me TRUE LOVE! Through thick and thin... they couldn't love us more! As a child, I didn't know parents had disagreements... Side-by-side my parents always walked... and now as they lay in bed together I just can't imagine them apart...! I love you, Mom and Dadeo!

Mom, you taught me to be the "mommy" to the world... "See you later alligator." and as you always said back "after awhile crocodile."

Next time, it's forever!

"I Love My Girls Forever and for Always...

           my babies they will always be..."

Asking for her Mom and Dad

No matter, how old we get... we some how always want our mom and dad. Lately, my mom has been asking for her mom and dad. They will be coming...

A Very Special Poem

After a rough morning and a visit from Lisa, my mom's home health aide, my mom got to enjoyed some visitors... Christian read a very special poem that my mom loved! And ice cream with brownies were shared.

Thank you Mary Ann!

Visitors

My mom had a restful morning to build her energy for her many visitors that keep her going. She loved seeing everyone, since she was unable to get out for dinner.

A Day of Rest

Today my mom was very tired and rested for most of the day. Tomorrow she hopes it will be a better day, since some co-workers would like to take her out to dinner. However, the reality is that she will have to see what tomorrow brings... her energy hasn't been the greatest and her breath has been shallow; making it really hard for her to do much of anything...,yet she will be getting an oxygen tank soon, which should help.

Meds.

Today, my mom's nurse checked-in on her and had her meds. increased to help with my mom's pain management. Although, this will cause my mom to be a bit more sleepy... it will hopefully hope her feel less pain. (We love you, Mom!)

The Girls

A GREAT DAY!!!

Thank you Aunt Debbie, Aunt Andrea and Grandma Marincovich for putting on such a nice Baby Shower for me! It was a great day!

Nana and Aunt Andrea made a great meal.

And then, of course, ice cream with grandma!

My mom would like to thank everyone for the love and support given to her through the comments on the blog and cards. She truely enjoys hearing from everyone and it keeps her spirits high.

My mom has been spending the last couple of days resting and trying to manage her pain. Her medication has been increased and my dad and Mireya have been doing an amazing job with the care of her wounds.

Today was an emotional day, but the Ice Cream Man came just in time to sweeten the day. We enjoyed the ice cream together, compliments of Holly, and soup from Olga.

THANK YOU!

Surviving Without Dawn!

Dawn returned home today and left my mom in the care of my dad, Mireya, and myself. I know my mom is in good hands, but it will not compare to the 24 hour care that Dawn was able to provide.

Today was also a quiet and restful day even with the grandkids!

Archangel Oracle Cards

Kathy Hall come by, today, with a deck of Archangel Cards for my mom. "Archangels are very powerful, wise, and loving guides who can motivate and heal you in miraculous ways..." Thank you, Kathy! My mom and everyone enjoyed your visit...and books.

Wonderful Cards

Thank you to the many friends and family members that have been sending my mom cards. (Especially, Kathy Hall, who has sent a card almost daily.) She has truely enjoyed getting them...

Taking a Break...

Yesterday was an emotional day for many of the girls in the family... so... my mom treated all of us to a pedicure. Thank you, Mom/Grandma!

Andrew and his family visited this weekend and my mom enjoyed recording a very special book for all her grandchildren "All the Ways I Love You".

"I Love You, Grandma!"

Today, Matthew wanted to be with his Grandma ALL day. I love you, Grandma he would say... and then when it came time to go to bed he wanted Grandma to get in bed with him... sooo she did... (Oh, how he wishes he could make his Grandma well again!)

A Double Rainbow is a sign to...

GET OUT of the house!

After feeling stuck in the house for the past few days... my mom didn't care what it would take to get her out of the house, even if it meant taking the grandkids to Denny's and Target on a rainy day...