Marlene Ross

Service : Private Service

Marlene Grace Ross, 89, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Marlene was born in the Bronx, New York and lived in Manhattan for many years. Marlene studied Fine Arts at the Pratt Institute in New York City and was a talented artist across many mediums, notably painting and sketching, as well as a fashion model in her early twenties. Professionally she spent many years working in the insurance industry but finally found her calling in real estate, where she found great satisfaction helping clients find their dream homes. A proud “New Yawker” at heart, Marlene carried her New York spirit with her wherever she went, even after making her home in the north shore of Chicago. She loved visiting her family in Colorado and especially enjoyed time spent at the Dillon Dam Brewery in the mountains, where good food, laughter, and togetherness were always on the menu. Marlene also loved the beach, visiting a variety of locations from the Jersey Shore to Puerto Rico to Hawaii. She also cherished her memorable trips with her family to New England, the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Southwest.

Marlene was a treasured friend to many and a constant source of warmth, strength, and humor. She cared deeply for others and wanted to make the world a more peaceful place. She was a kind and generous soul with a sincere love of animals and children. She often said you could identify good people by how animals and children were drawn to them, and both were always drawn to her.

Marlene found joy in life’s simple pleasures-dancing, running, enjoying a piece of chocolate, ice cream, or a great steak, sketching outdoors, and shopping in the rain -best enjoyed in the company of those she loved. She had a deep love of music, especially the songs of The Beatles-“When I’m Sixty-Four” held a special place in her heart-as well as the voices of Peter Allen, Bobby Darin, and Elton John. Music was one of the many ways she connected with the people she loved.

Marlene always believed that her biggest accomplishment was her children. She was a devoted mother to her three children Jonathan, Jacqueline (Joshua Bracken), and Frank (Margo) Goldman; cherished Nana of Zachary Goldman, Zoë and Max Bracken, and Wyatt and Willow Goldman. She was the dear sister of the late Billy Ross and the much-loved mother of her four-legged companion, Jasper. Known affectionately as “Nana Banana,” she shared a special bond with her grandchildren, who brought her endless joy. Her family was her greatest pride, and she had a gift for making each person feel deeply loved and valued.

Marlene will be remembered for her warmth, her wit, her love of music, and the way she made every gathering brighter. Her legacy of love, laughter, and connection will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. As she would say, she is loved “a million, billion!” In lieu of flowers, donations dedicated in Marlene’s memory may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), www.aspca.org http://www.aspca.org, or to the Make a Wish Foundation, www.wish.org.

Contact Shalom Memorial Funeral Home for information and to leave condolences, by visiting www.shalommemorial.org http://www.shalommemorial.org