Mrs Marleta Agnes Lessley's Obituary
On Wednesday, November 13, 2013, at the age of 82, with her loving husband, Buell, at her side, Marleta (Wenger-Topoleski) Lessley of Calimesa passed away, at home, following a brief but valiant battle with cancer.
Born April 29, 1931, in Canton, Ohio, to Harold and Agnes (Tournoux) Wenger, Marleta spent her early years in Ohio before moving to Southern California with her family. Marleta became a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a young lady, later becoming a lay member of the Immaculate Heart Community. She spent more than 40 years teaching at the elementary and high school levels. As an IHM Sister, she taught at Tsarlip Indian School in Victoria, Canada, as well as Saint Thomas the Apostle Grammar School – where she taught the future Jesuit Bishop Gordon Bennett – and Bishop Conaty High School in Los Angeles. She went on to teach at several other schools, primarily in the San Bernardino area; including 8 years at Our Lady of the Assumption Elementary School, 5 years at Saint Bernardine High School, and 6 years at a local Christian elementary school. She taught English and, of course, Religion. After retiring from teaching, Marleta spent more than 12 years volunteering at Loma Linda Children's Hospital's Neonatal Unit, holding and rocking infants in need. She was recently recognized for having volunteered more than 3000 hours! She will be forever remembered as a loving, gentle soul who touched the life of everyone she met with her extraordinary kindness and compassion.
Marleta was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Agnes; her first husband, Peter Topoleski; and her brothers, Robert, Terrence, and Jude Wenger. She is survived by her loving husband and best friend, Buell Lessley. In addition, she is survived by her brother, Harold (Rose) Wenger ; sister-in-law, Nell Wenger; stepsons Matthew (Corinn), James (Lisa), and John (Tracy) Topoleski, and Jim (Michelle), Mike, and Bruce Lessley; and stepdaughter, Yvonne Lessley. She also leaves behind her nephews, Michael (Lorena), Terrence (Stacey), Rob (Jill), and Christopher; her nieces, Jeanmarie (David) Centeno, and Karen and Sharon Wenger; her grandnieces, Jennifer, Stephanie, Taylor, Grace, and Genesis Wenger; her grandnephews, Blaine, Michael, and Kobe Wenger; and her grandchildren, Tony, Nick, Paul, Tanner, Colin, Peyton, and Jack Topoleski, and Katelyn and Max Lessley. Additionally, her close friends, Sister Patricia Haire, CSJ, and Mary Grillo, along with countless others, will deeply miss her.
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