Cherokee Memorial Park & Funeral Home

Remembering

Marilyn Pedersen

Marilyn Pedersen

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Marilyn Pedersen, age 80, passed away on March 2, 2010. She was born in Whittier, California, and took Berkeley as her childhood home. Upon graduation from the University of California with a major in Sociology, she married Ralph Pedersen, a United Methodist Pastor. After moving to New England, Marilyn put her husband through seminary by working for "The New England Home for Little Wanderers."

Marilyn and Ralph are the proud parents of four sons: Earl and his wife Daniela, Paul and his wife Maggie, David and his wife Sharon, and Don and his wife Paula. She is also survived by her brother Glenn Strahl and sister Charlene Gudmunds as well as nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The Pedersens recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary and have made Stockton their home for the past several years.

Marilyn loved to be outdoors, hiking in the mountains, working as a young adult at Yosemite and even climbed Half Dome as a teenager. In addition to being a homemaker, she took in foster children, worked as a social worker, library and math aide and a travel consultant. She loved the San Francisco Giants and enjoyed watching Cal football at the Memorial Coliseum. Reading mysteries, knitting, working crossword puzzles, and hosting family gatherings were among her favorite pastimes.

She will be interred in the Berkeley area near her parent's remains.

A service of celebration will be held at Central United Methodist Church on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room. Tokens of love may be sent to the Parkinson's Foundation or the charity of your choice. Rev. David Bennett will preside at the memorial service.