Marie Molocznik

 With heavy hearts, the family of Marie Mildred Molocznik shares news of her passage to heaven on January 6, 2025. Born August 5, 1927 in Monessen, Pennsylvania, as one of 7 children of Peter Garber and Mary Wagoner, Marie grew up to be a tenacious and hard-working individual. After serving as a sergeant in the Army during World War II, she moved to Los Angeles. She often talked about her exciting metropolitan lifestyle in the excitement of the postwar years when she lived at the YWCA with other young professional women. Marie and her friends often “painted the town red” and danced late into the night. After meeting Larry at the club where he was bartending, they eloped to Tijuana in 1949 (and later married officially in 1953). Together they spent 70 years building a home and family in Santa Fe Springs CA. Unusual for the time, Marie worked a long career at the Southern California Gas Company until her retirement. 

Marie spent her free time enjoying family and friends. She could often be found solving crossword puzzles, playing cards, hosting holidays, or traveling the country in the RV with her husband and occasionally a grandkid or two. They were especially fond of their annual (or sometimes more frequent) trips to June Lake, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe, as well as visits to family in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. As someone who loved to sing and dance, Marie attended aerobics several times a week and had many friends at the senior center. 

 Marie’s thriftiness was legendary, and she never turned away a free cup of coffee at McDonalds or a senior discount. Her coupon clipping was a passion and she stocked every nook and cranny in her home with “free” items (and often made a profit, long before “extreme couponing” became popular). No visitor could leave her house without a month’s supply of cereal, toothpaste, or laundry detergent!

 Marie lived a long and adventurous life and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by three children, Lawrence Joseph Molocznik of Corona CA, Marianne Grzybowski of Windsor CT, and Thomas Peter Molocznik of Bali; eight grandchildren, Shannon (Daniel), Mark (Cozette), Mindy, Michael (Nicole), Bo (Brittney), Clay (Myana), Jonathan (Tonya) and Alex; and thirteen great-grandchildren, Austin, Jonathan, Joseph, Kaden, Makai, Aidan, Reid, Paige, Cade, Damian, Isabelle, Keegan, and Harley. Marie was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Lawrence Thomas John Molocznik (known as “Grandpap” to all), and her siblings, Pete, Bill, Marian, PeeWee, Jacqueline, and Jean.

 Marie will be laid to rest alongside her husband at Riverside National Cemetery. Should friends or family desire, memorial contributions may be made to St. Judes Hospital.