Obituary: Marilyn Frances Denz

Marilyn F. Denz, 77 year old Yreka resident, passed away at Madrone Hospice in Yreka on February 25, 2025.

Marilyn was born in Martinez, California on July 14, 1947 to John and Rose Hankins of Pittsburg, California. Marilyn married John Denz of Yreka on June 25, 1967. The wedding was held at St. Peter Martyr Catholic Church in Pittsburg among family and friends, followed by a honeymoon in Hawaii. These were very happy times for Marilyn and John, as they were married for 48 years.

Marilyn was a parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church, a member of the Greenhorn Grange and was a Lady of the Knights of Columbus. She was an exceptional homemaker. She raised four children, did all the cooking and cleaning, and was instrumental with budgeting, saving and investing for the household. Through her very hard work and that of her husband, they were able to pay off a 20-year mortgage in just seven years. Marilyn loved working in her yard, often spending long hours planting flowers and pulling weeds by hand. Marilyn was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. We will all miss her very much.

Survivors include her sister, Christina Billeci; four children, Alexander Denz and his wife Sharon, Paul Denz and his wife Maija Meneks, Chris Denz and his wife Emma, and Maria Branigin and her husband Scott; eight grandchildren, Kayla, Shay, Ashlyn, Sean, Bryce, John, Quinn and Grace; and two great grandchildren, Laval and Arabella. Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, John.

A Recitation of the Rosary will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM at Girdner Funeral Chapel in Yreka. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Yreka, with interment to follow at St Joseph Catholic Cemetery. A reception will follow at Black Bart’s Grill in Yreka. Memorial contributions may be made to Madrone Hospice, 255 Collier Circle, Yreka, in Marilyn’s name.

sourced: Girdner Funeral Chapel