ELKHART-- Marlene Dee Porzelius, 72, of Elkhart, Ind., and formerly of Sun City, Ariz., passed away Friday morning (Feb. 6, 2009) at Hospice House in Elkhart, following a brief battle with cancer.

Marlene was born in Elkhart, Ind., on Jan. 28, 1937, to the late LeRoy and Bertha (Cloud) Chaffee.

Marlene was preceded in death by a sister, Thelma Jacobs; brothers Russell and Brady Chaffee; a step-son, Troy S. Porzelius; and her former spouse and father to her sons, Ken Porzelius.

She leaves behind her two sons, Brad Porzelius of Angola, Ind., Ryan Porzelius (Tracy Barnhart) and their son and her special grandson, Kenneth Porzelius of Elkhart. Her daughter, HolliJo Hamilton of Elkhart, and a brother, LeRoy Chaffee of Elkhart survive. Surviving as well is her former spouse and father of her daughter, Phil (Ruth) Hamilton.

Marlene worked in the RV industry as an administrative assistant for many years and was a former resident of Port Charlotte, Fla. She was a 1955 graduate of Constantine (Mich.) High School and enjoyed going to her reunions and visiting with classmates. Marlene found no greater joy in life than helping her family and friends and spending time with her grandson, Kenneth. She enjoyed card games and was quite adept at Scrabble.

Please join with her family and friends as we gather on Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, where a service to celebrate her life will begin at 8 p.m. In keeping with her wishes, cremation will take place.

To send condolences or to share a memory of Marlene with her family, please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.