Raffaelina "Lena" Vincenza Marelic

Raffaelina “Lena” Vincenza Marelic, age 80, of Dassel, died Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Cokato Manor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin. Interment will be held at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Darwin following the service. There will be a visitation on Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin. The Marelic family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the nurses and staff at the Cokato Manor for the kind and loving care that they gave Lena. Raffaelina “Lena” Vincenza Marelic, the daughter of Ciro D’Acunto and Carmela Coscia was born on January 9, 1945, in Salerno, Italy. Her youth was in post-World War II. Lena worked helping her parents sell fresh vegetables in the market and worked as a doctor’s assistant in a clinic. This is probably where she got her love of helping others. Lena met the love of her life Ante “Tony” Marelic in Salerno, Italy while they were both in the movie “The Four Days of Naples.” The were married on June 20th, 1964, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Salerno, Italy. Lena was not allowed to enter the United States of America as the quota for Italian citizens to enter the United States of America was full. With the help of Franz Guhl who was the Mayor of Dassel and Vice President Hubert H. Humphry, Lena was able to come to the United States of America and settled in Dassel, Minnesota. Lena was employed at the Dassel Nursing Home for many years before being employed at Fabri-Tech in Cokato for 37 years where she eventually became the Lead Supervisor. She worked as a cook in the Dassel Elementary School. She then was employed at the Litchfield Clinic and the Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield for many years before she retired. Lena was a caring person who loved to walk around town visiting and exercising. She was a wonderful cook and made amazing Italian dishes. She was famous for making homemade Pizza from scratch. At family holiday meals she rarely sat down and made sure everyone had what they needed to eat or drink. If urged to sit down, she would say “Mind Your Own Business.” Lena always loved to tell Tony “To Go Jump in a Lake”. Lena was always willing to lend a hand. She once was the coordinator for the spaghetti feed for a Boy Scout fundraiser and made all the Spaghetti Sauce. She would pray the Rosary for others, help tailor clothing for family and nursing home residents. She enjoyed crocheting and knitting and making beautiful cakes for weddings and birthdays and other events. Lena was loved by many and will be missed deeply by her family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Ante “Tony” Marelic of Dassel, sons, Jack (Jo Anne) Marelic of Crystal, Rene (Cheri) Marelic of Dassel, four grandchildren, Mason (Madi) Marelic, Mariah (Ross) Halonen, Tate Marelic and Ava Marelic, two great grandchildren, Nova Marelic and Blaine Halonen, Siblings, Rita D’Acunto of Salerno, Italy, Gaetana D’Acunto of Salerno, Italy, Vincenzo D’Acunto of Salerno, Italy, Domenico D’Acunto of Salerno, Italy, Matteo D’Acunto of Salerno, Italy and Carmine D’Acunto of Salerno, Italy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ciro D’Acunto and Carmela Coscia, one brother and five sisters.

Raffaelina "Lena" Vincenza Marelic

January 9, 1945 - May 13, 2025