Marlene L (Craft) Hitchen

Marlene L. Hitchen, 88, of Saint Marys, died 9:53 A.M. Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Vancrest of Saint Marys.

She was born July 15, 1936, in Saint Marys, the daughter of Leo and Ida (Steen) Craft.

She married Donald Hitchen on May 5, 1956; he preceded her in death on September 21, 2006.

She is survived by her children: Belinda (Rick) Nagel of Saint Marys; Brian (Diane) Hitchen of Saint Marys; Tina (Jerry) Jolliff of Bridgeport, West Virginia. 

She is survived by her grandchildren: Erica (Billy Fanning) Nagel; Alysia Nagel; Kay (Mike) Werling; Chrissy (Kevin) Chaney; Lindsay (Bob) Kupper; Leo (Alyssa) Hitchen; Amber Hitchen; Tara Cotterman; Robert (Christina) Cotterman; Amy (Mike) Hurley; Katie ((Zeke) Daniels; Ashley (Christopher) Enourato; Jerry (Tia Reppert-Jolliff) Jolliff, II.

She is also survived by her 38 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren. She is survived by her sister, Donna Chilcoat of Saint Marys; by her brothers-in-law, Ken Hitchen of Saint Marys; David (Merrilee) Hitchen of Genoa, Ohio; by her sister-in-law, Susan Puthoff of Saint Marys.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, by a grandson, Joseph Hitchen; by her siblings: Dorcas “Butchie” Vanover; Richard Craft; and Betty Sanders.

Marlene was a 1955 graduate of Saint Marys Memorial High School. She was a homemaker and enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and each year she canned vegetables for her family and friends. She and Don enjoyed square dancing with the Saint Marys Tri-Squares for many years. Marlene was an excellent seamstress who made her childrens’ clothes, her square dancing outfits and her two daughters’ wedding dresses.  Loving and caring for her family was the most important thing in the world to Marlene. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Saint Marys.

Funeral rites will be held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, March 19. 2025, at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home, where memorial donations may be given to Grand Lake Hospice.

Memories and condolences may be shared via Millerfuneralhomes.net or the Miller Funeral Homes Facebook Page.