Marlene Janet Hellmann, age 91 of Glen Carbon, IL, died Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Eden Village Retirement Center in Glen Carbon, IL.

She was born on Sunday, May 21, 1933, in Orange County, CA, the daughter of Frank L. and Ada (nee Atkinson) Hafer.

On Saturday, September 1, 1956, she married Carl Herman Hellmann at Presbyterian Church, Placentia, CA, who passed away on Thursday, November 9, 2017.

She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel, IL.

Marlene was born and raised in California. She attended nursing school at the California Hospital School of Nursing and then began working at UCLA Medical Center. Marlene and family moved to the Alhambra / Worden, IL area in 1971. Marlene started at Hitz Memorial Home as an RN in 1980 where she worked until she retired in 2000 to take care of her mother, Ada.

Marlene loved to make homemade meals from scratch, which earned her the title of “Best Cook in the World" from family and friends. She enjoyed flower gardening, traveling (especially cruises and national parks), reading fiction books, baking with nieces and granddaughters, and attending her grandsons’ sporting events. Marlene enjoyed playing pinochle and bridge. She had a very strong Lutheran faith.

Survivors include:
Sister - Sandra Bell, Sonoma, CA
Son - Michael D. (Vickie) Hellmann, Edwardsville, IL
Son - Phillip S. (Tracy) Hellmann, Worden, IL
Son - Ronald C. (Sig. other - Caron Aldrich) Hellmann, East Alton, IL
Grandchild - Heather M. (Mark) Whitmire, St. Louis, MO
Grandchild - Holly A. (Michael) Santoro, Collinsville, IL
Grandchild - Quinn R. (Girlfriend - Lindsey Laufenberg) Hellmann, Waunakee, WI
Grandchild - Cort A. (sig. other - Hannah Jackson) Hellmann, Jerseyville, IL
Great Grandchild - Lillian W. Santoro, Collinsville, IL
Great Grandchild - Emersyn K. Hellmann, Jerseyville, IL

She was preceded in death by:
Husband - Carl Hermann Hellmann (died 11/9/2017)
Father – Frank Lynn Hafer
Mother - Ada Hafer, nee Atkinson

Arrangements are being handled by Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel, IL.

Funeral Service will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel, IL, with Rev. William Gleason, Pastor, officiating.

Interment will be at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Hamel, IL.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.