I came to the US in 1960 from Germany. My sister and brother- in-law had emigrated a couple of years earlier. I cared for two children in the Philadelphia area for one year before joining my sister and brother- in-law, who had a coffee shop. Three years later I moved to Los Angeles, got married, and started a family. While visiting Germany with my children, my husband was killed in a traffic accident. Two years later I married again, and we combined our two families, six children altogether. We lived in Burbank for 10 years before moving to Tahoe.
We enjoyed an active outdoor life in Tahoe, skiing, and hiking. I also opened my own business “Marlies Personal Chef.” I cooked and served for family reunions and private residents in Lake Tahoe. I always met with each client individually to ensure each menu was precisely customized. When I started having some health problems, I moved closer to my family in Ventura. It has been an emotional time leaving my house of thirty years in Tahoe. However, I knew it was time to close one chapter and start a new one. I feel blessed to have my family close by and I am enjoying meeting new people here at the Ventura Townehouse.