Marilyn Ann Sickler was born July 7, 1936, and left for her next adventure on June 1, 2025.
She was a California girl through and through. Marilyn was born in Los Angeles, moved to Balboa Island while her parents built their family home on Lido Island, which she was raised in, with her brother, Pete. Marilyn and Rolly Pulaski met at Newport Harbor High School and then attended USC together. They started a family in Costa Mesa and then moved to the Balboa Peninsula.
Throughout the years, she was an avid tennis player, Girl Scout troop leader, hotel manager of the Balboa Inn, seamstress, chef, and “pragmatic consultant” while raising her kids. She loved to sew, cook, decorate, and entertain family and friends.
She then married Robert (Bob) Sickler and began a second life traveling, golfing, and living in Ketchum, ID, Bainbridge Island and Allyn, WA, Los Osos, CA, Eagle Point. OR, and Laguna Woods, CA. Marilyn made a final relocation move to Kyle, TX, in the fall of 2024 to be a part of an extended family, where she passed away surrounded by loved ones.
She is survived by her five children and an extensive fan club of in-laws (referring to themselves as the Outlaws): Jon Pulaski (Laurie) of Costa Mesa, CA, Jaena Imboden (Tom) of Lincoln, NE, Kobi Pulaski (Christina Burke) of Costa Mesa, CA, and the twins Kristin Pulaski (Alisa Curry) of Hayward, CA and Kori Pulaski (Robin Robinson) of Kyle, TX. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jamie Acosta (Robert), Lauren Xing (Steven), Emily Pulaski, Spencer Pulaski, Emery Pulaski, Cody Imboden (Hannah), West Imboden, Marisa Burke, Lauren Alvarez (Andre), and eleven great-grandchildren. She also had a multitude of extended family, friends, and admirers.
She was preceded in this life by her brother, Pete Petersen.
Marilyn was an incredible daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and kitty mom.
She was an independent and strong-willed woman who lived a full, adventurous life of 88 years (a month shy of 89) and who completed this life journey feeling content and full of grace. She was an inspiration to many. Thank you, Marilyn, for your advice, influence, recipes, and love.