Marlene Ann McClorey, a loving, selfless, and extraordinarily generous mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully in Commerce Township, Michigan, on August 22, 2026, at the age of 89.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on April 18, 1937, to the late Joseph and Anna Burghardt, Marlene grew up with a deep devotion to family and faith. She graduated from Cody High School in 1955 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Therapy from Marygrove College in 1959. Following graduation, she shared her vibrant spirit as an educator at Detroit Northwestern High School and within the Detroit Public Schools system. Later in life, from 1988 to 1992, she brought her talents to the film distribution industry as an office administrator for Mason Releasing Corporation (MRC).

Marlene’s dynamic personality was matched only by her passion for the arts and community. With a song for every occasion, she brought music to life through her performance with the Ford Chorus—continuing a proud family tradition tied to Ford Motor Company. (FOMOCO). She was also a dedicated civic leader, serving as Vice-President of both the Lawyer’s Wives of Livonia and the Lawyers’ Wives of Michigan.

Above all, Marlene’s proudest achievement was her family. She lived a life of selfless devotion, always willing to sacrifice her own comfort to care for those around her. Her warmth expressed itself through gourmet cooking, winter escapes to her condo in Siesta Key, Florida, and peaceful days spent boating across Lake St. Clair and the Great Lakes alongside her beloved late husband, Bernard. Whether cheering passionately at her grandchildren’s sporting events, offering tight cuddles to her great-grandchildren, or asking her signature question, “Do you want me to make you something to eat?”, Marlene filled every room with joy, humor, and unconditional love. Her life was defined by her favorite reminder: “Who has more fun than people?”

Marlene is reunited in eternal rest with her beloved husband of 35 years, Bernard Patrick McClorey; her parents; and her family members who went before her.

She leaves behind a rich legacy of love through her five children, Kevin (Colleen), Anne (Patrick) McLaughlin, Timothy (Marisa), Mary Kay, and Sean (Suzanne); her 13 cherished grandchildren; her 10 treasured great-grandchildren; and her siblings, Joanna Laina and Joseph (Robin) Burghardt.

Services

• Visitation: Friday, August 28, 2026, from 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Rosary at 7:00 PM) at O’Brien/Sullivan Funeral Home, 41555 Grand River Avenue, Novi, MI.

• Funeral Mass: Saturday, August 29, 2026. In-state at 9:30 AM, followed by Mass at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23815 Power Rd., Farmington, MI.

• Interment: Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Southfield, MI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Right to Life / Lifespan (milifespan.org) or the Alzheimer's Association (Alzheimer's Association ).