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February 27, 2007 SYCAMORE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL MOURNS THE LOSS OF MARLENE OLSTHOORN, LOVING MOTHER OF FRESHMAN MARIA OLSTHOORN NEWBURGH & TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Freshman Maria Olsthoorn took a leave from Indiana State University early last week to be with her ailing mother, Marlene Olsthoorn, who was fighting a courageous battle with cancer in Southern Indiana. It is with tremendous sorrow and sympathy that we report the passing of Mrs. Olsthoorn early Sunday evening. “We are extremely fortunate and blessed to have Maria as a member of our program,” head coach Jim Wiedie said. “Not only is she a talented player, but she is a wonderful person. That smile of hers is contagious. She just has a way about her that makes you feel better about yourself and everything around you. We miss her tremendously, and our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family as they deal with this extremely difficult situation.” Marlene Olsthoorn, age 47, of Newburgh passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2007, after a courageous 10-year battle with cancer. Marlene was born to Matthew and the late Hattie (Aalbers) Olivier on May 22, 1959, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She married her high school sweetheart, Larry, on August 17, 1979, in Pella, Iowa, at the age of 20 and moved to Evansville, Ind. Marlene was employed for 25 years as a certified surgical technician at Tri-State Opthalmology. She loved to spend time with her husband and two daughters. Her infectious smile and caring love for people will be most remembered. Marlene and her family have been members of First Christian Church of Newburgh since February 1998. She was preceded in death by her mother, Hattie Olivier; brother, Larry Olivier; stepmother, Pauline Olivier; father-in-law, Marion Olsthoorn; and brother-in-law, Harlan Olsthoorn. Marlene is survived by her husband of 27 years, Larry; daughters, Sara and Maria of Newburgh; father, Matthew Olivier of Pella, Iowa; brother, Don Olivier of Pella, Iowa; brother, Alvin Olivier of Knoxville, Iowa; aunt, Gertrude Olivier of Pella, Iowa; mother-in-law, Sara Olsthoorn of Pella, Iowa; brother-in-law, John Olsthoorn and sister-in-law, Cheryl Olsthooorn, both of Wichita, Kan.; brother-in-law, Karl Rozendaal, sister-in-law, Linda Rozendaal and sister-in-law, Brenda Olsthoorn, all of Pella, Iowa; plus numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to give special recognition and thanks to Marlene's oncologist, Dr. Lotfi Hadad; all the nurses at the Evansville Cancer Center; all the nurses on the sixth floor at St. Mary's Hospital; and her hospice nurse, Heather Lenn, with the Visiting Nurse Association. Services will be 11 a.m. (CT) Thursday, March 1, 2007, at First Christian Church, 4544 State Road 261 in Newburgh, officiated by Pastor Mike Claypool and Pastor Brad Ferris. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Newburgh. Friends may visit from 3 to 8 p.m. (CT) Wednesday and from 10 a.m. (CT) until service time Thursday at First Christian Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1510 W. Franklin Street, Evansville, Ind. 47710; Visiting Nurse Association, P.O. Box 3487, Evansville, Ind. 47734; or First Christian Church, 4544 State Road 261, Newburgh, Ind. 47630. Condolences may be made online at www.mem.com.
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