Marlene Hamel

Hamel, Marlene (Molinaro) - of Fenton, died August 26, 2022. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 AM Thursday September 1, 2022 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 600 N. Adelaide St., Fenton, Fr. David Harvey celebrant. Visitation will be held  4-8 PM Wednesday August 31 with a 7 PM Vigil service at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel,  1000 Silver Lake Road, Fenton; and again from 10 AM until the time of the Mass Thursday at the church.

Marlene was born in 1939 into a family who recently arrived from Southern Italy (Guardia Piemontese).  Her father was employed at The Ford Motor Co. assembly plant in River Rouge.  Unlike her older twin sisters who graduated from public schools, she graduated from St. Catherine’s Catholic School on the eastside of Detroit.  At graduation she made two decisions; one, to be a teacher and two, to enter a Catholic religious order that was dedicated to that profession.  Against her parents’ wishes she moved to Monroe, Michigan to start her studies to be a sister at the IHM motherhouse.  (Her parents were Catholic but not necessarily religious.)  The experience was a good one for Marlene, building a foundation that would last throughout her life.  In the 1960’s Montessori schools were making a renewed presence in America and Marlene went to learn all about Maria Montessori and her method of teaching which was in direct contrast to public school teaching of the day.  While at Christ the King Parish, she, along with some other fellow nuns, opened a Montessori school in downtown Detroit to serve children in the heart of the city (which needed it most).  While at Christ the King she met the young Fr. Tom Hamel who was also serving at the parish.  When describing this stage of her life, Marlene’s face always lit up.  Her and her fellow religious friends, nuns and priests had lots of fun and were making a real difference.  Along the way she found herself falling for Tom and questioning her calling to live the single life of a nun.  In the mid 1970’s she left religious life and soon married Tom who was no longer a priest.  They moved to Fenton and began a life together owning and operating many businesses in the area.  Marlene started a Montessori school in downtown Flint and continued teaching in the area.  They adopted two children, Jamie and David, and renovated a former barn/cottage on Lake Fenton into a home.  Marlene threw herself into motherhood and was a textbook host for family gatherings and celebrations.  She has always been dedicated to her family, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.  Her and Tom literally traveled the world together visiting places all around the globe.  They were a curious couple determined to learn while they traveled.  Tom died last year after 45 years of marriage.  In her own words, Marlene said she was at peace to leave this life and see Tom again, whom she was sure would be waiting to greet her.

Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.