Marlene Rand

Marlene Rand, known as Marlie to her endless circle of friends, died May 30, a few weeks shy of her 91st birthday. 

Marlie grew up in Park Ridge, the oldest of the four vivacious daughters of parents Hilda and Arthur Doherr. She met her future husband, Don, whom she remembered as “looking very sharp” in a yellow V neck sweater, in a Maine East High School biology class. She graduated from Michigan State with a degree in Home Economics, and was an active member of sorority Tri Delta. After their marriage in 1954 they moved more than 15 times to a number of cities throughout the US and also spent two years in Toronto, Canada. Marlie accompanied Don while he was at Harvard Business School, served in the Navy in Hawaii, and enjoyed a long career in business. Wherever they went, Marlie created new homes and made new friends, raised three children, and enjoyed gardening, homemaking, socializing and volunteering. They spent the last 30+ years back in the Chicago area. Don and Marlie loved to travel - together, with friends and with family - and shared an active social life as members of The Chicago Curling Club and The Glen View Club.

Marlie will be remembered as sweet, warm, loving, brave, optimistic, hard working, modest, smart, welcoming, witty, determined, open, technologically challenged, and patient. She loved to talk and always took an interest in others. She was beloved by family and her many friends. Her positive spirit allowed her to maintain a joyful life during more than a decade of declining health.

Marlie is survived by her husband Donald; two sisters, Terry (Jim) Hommer of Libertyville, IL and Bonnie (Gus) Gustafson of Houston, TX; as well as daughters Jennifer Cerasoli of Traverse City and Julie Rand (Matt Greenberger) of Chicago; and grandchildren, Eden and Nathaniel Greenberger. She was preceded in death by her sister Judy and her son Donald Jr. (Chip).

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Habitat for Humanity, the Northern Illinois Food Bank, or Doctors without Borders - or simply do anyone a kindness in her name.

A memorial service is planned for Sunday, June 19 at 4 pm at the Glen View Club, 100 Golf Road, Golf, IL 60029. 

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