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In memory of

Marlene Heinrich Abildgaard Morris

Chico, CA, USA

July 15, 1932 - January 23, 2019

Jul 15, 1932 - Jan 23, 2019

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Marlene Heinrich Abildgaard Morris, Artist, Designer and Mother

Marlene drew her last breath at 5:23 PM on January 23, 2019 with her eldest daughter and a devoted caregiver at her side. She died of natural causes at California Park Rehab in Chico, California at the age of 86. Here are the facts of her life.

She was born on July 15, 1932, in Los Angeles and was the second daughter of William (Bill) B. Richardson and Faye Jensen. Marlene was the last surviving member of her family, having lost a brother during infancy, her dear mother to cancer in 1954, her father in 2008 and her sister, Ann Tonn, in May 2017. She also outlived three husbands, Robert (Bob) Heinrich (the father of her four children), Dr. William Abildgaard, and Robert Morris. She was the proud mother, grandmother and great grandmother to four children; (Tere Miller, Bob Heinrich, Cindy Selby, and Caralyn Henry); nine grandchildren; (Brittany Jarabek, Marek Miller, Jonathan Heinrich, Jarred Heinrich, Joel Heinrich, Chelseigh Selby, Cody Selby, Bryce Henry, Kendall Henry); and five great grandchildren (Victoria Jarabek, Felicity Jarabek, Adelynn Heinrich, Jackson Heinrich and Viviana Heinrich).

She was blessed with three husbands who were each devoted to her in their own way. While attending high school in Lodi, California, she met her first husband, Bob Heinrich, falling in love and marrying him in November 1950. They moved into a small farmhouse and, a year later, their first daughter was born. Marlene was just 19 years old, a child herself. Bob and Marlene lived in the Central Valley area for a short time thereafter, but they had no interest in being farmers. So, they picked up their small family and moved to Glendale California where their family grew to four children, over the next 20 years. Glendale remained their home until around 1970.

After the dissolution of her first marriage, Marlene moved to Northern California where she wed Dr. William Abildgaard who proved to be a loving and supportive stepfather to her children and a source of great comfort to Marlene for many years. During their marriage, they lived in Coronado California, for a time, but ultimately returned to Woodside where they lived until the death of William in 1987. After that, Marlene returned to Los Angeles, where she had many friends and family who supported her during a difficult time after William’s death. She met the last man in her life, Robert Morris, a couple of years after returning to Los Angeles. She married Robert in the late 90’s and often referred to him as her last great love. They lived in Bel Air and Beverly Hills until finally relocating to the San Diego area to be near two of her daughters. Robert died of cancer in 2007 and Marlene never remarried after that.

Marlene was a stunningly beautiful woman who had a huge impact on everyone she met. The truth of her life is that she was a force to be reckoned with. She had a flare for the dramatic and exciting, though she could also be happy with the simplest of pleasures. Her adaptability served her well in life as she enjoyed both great wealth and great hardship, handling both with grace and elegance.

She was an artist in every aspect of her life. Her children recall her love of beauty in the quality and feel of a fabric, or in items carefully selected to decorate the home of one of her friends. But her greatest talent was in creating amazing oil paintings. Her love affair with painting lasted until the time of her death, though her greatest work was done in the 90’s and early 2000’s.

Her zest for life and vivacious nature are the main qualities her children recall. She somehow knew how to turn the most mundane and boring activity into something fun. These qualities attracted many lifelong friends with whom she loved to chat with on the phone for hours.

This outgoing nature was challenged towards the end of her life as she struggled with vertigo and many bouts of pneumonia. At this time, she turned to her roots as a Seventh Day Adventist and spent many hours, during the last few years, studying her Bible, writing down verses to remember throughout the day and prayers to be prayed morning and night. Her faith sustained her through difficult days and prepared her for the end. Her family and friends pray that she died knowing her life had purpose and meaning and that she was ready to meet Jesus.

Marlene will be honored with a Celebration of Life on March 9 at the home of her son in Pasadena.

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