Marian Angela Wetsch

Obituary Marian (Martelli) Wetsch Marian Wetsch passed away, surrounded by her family, on January 14, 2008. Marian (Martelli) Wetsch was born August 26, 1926 to Patrick and Florine Martelli in Tacoma, WA. Attending Catholic schools in Tacoma, Mom graduated from St. Leo's High School and went to St. Joseph Hospital's School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse in 1947. Mom met Dad, Lou Wetsch, at a dance for young Catholics called the Cardinal Club. They married in 1951 and spent 50 wonderful years together, raising three daughters in South Tacoma on State Street. Mom and Dad settled in Fife forty years ago, and were active in the neighborhood and their parish church, St. Martin of Tours. All three of their girls were married there; Terri, Patti and Mary. Mom's drive and hard work contributed greatly to the construction of the current St. Joseph Hospital and its Operating Room Services. She was the Director of Nursing over O.R. for many years and retired in 1986 after working at St Joseph for 38 years, having made lifelong friends. Marian could not stay retired for long and served two terms as a Fife city councilmember and was Mayor of Fife for one term from 1996 to 1999. During that time she was a catalyst for many changes, helping to develop and implement the move of City Hall to its current location, and creating a new facility for the Fife Police Department. In an effort to continually serve her community and church, Mom served with many boards and organizations such as St. Joseph Nursing School Alumni, S.E.R.R.A., Fife Historical Society, and the Tacoma Philharmonic board. She was active in St. Martin of Tours social events, Legion of Mary, Fife Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul, and so many more. Besides all this, Mom still found time and was exceptional at baking, cooking, gardening, and sewing, mainly for her family and church. Marian was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Earl, husband Lou, and daughter Therese Bonck. Mom is survived by her sister Dorothy West, daughters Patricia (Lou Wolfrom) and Mary (Dean Johnson), and ten grandchildren. Funeral services will be Friday, January 18, 2008 at 10:00 am at St. Martin of Tours Church in Fife. A rosary will precede services at 9:30am at the church. The family requests that contributions in lieu of flowers be made to Cabrini Ministry Training or to Franciscan Foundation for Integrative Cancer Program. Please leave online condolences at www.GaffneyCares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.