Marianne Pauline Arnerich Born in Oakland, CA, August 27, 1950, Marianne set off on a new adventure, unexpectedly, on December 12, 2008. She grew up in San Leandro, the youngest child of John and Marion Arnerich. She attended Assumption School and Bishop O'Dowd High School. She received her B.A. from Humbolt State University in 1973 with a major in European History and minors in Design and Vocal Music. After college Marianne, following in the path of her beloved Irish Aunt Kitty, traveled extensively throughout the Emerald Isle, Europe and Asia, meeting people and forming lifelong friendships wherever she went. By the mid-1970's she had begun her career in Interior Design in which, for over thirty years, she built her business and became an expert in her field, designing elegant and tasteful interiors and exteriors for many friends and clients. In recent years she had begun to place her own exquisite mark of distinction and taste in her lovely home in San Leandro. Marianne was a voracious reader, especially of "good literature" and all things spiritual. Ranging far and wide, she could take a long hike during the day and enjoy an opera that same evening. She loved beautiful music, her new garden and indeed all of nature, as exhibited by her long-time membership with the Sierra Club and her trip in 1999 with Earthwatch to record the habits of dolphins at the Strait of Gibraltar. Along with her beloved mother, Marion, and sister, Katie, she was an ardent devotee of "Masterpiece Theater", British mysteries and "TCM." She was devoted to her beloved cats, past and present: Brenda, Smittens, Gracie, Beauford, Harry, Blacky and Tiger. Finally, she cherished her countless friendships, many going back to her childhood. Marianne was preceded in death by her parents, her grandparents, and numerous aunts and uncles. She is survived by her loving brother and sister, Bill and Katie; loving sister-in-law Carol; loving nephews Stephen and Jeffrey Hough, of Portland, OR; loving nieces Colleen Arnerich, of Brooklyn, NY, and Cathleen Arnerich, of Portland, each to whom she was an especially proud aunt and close confidant. Marianne was elegant, warm, generous, kind, and especially honest to the life she chose to live, with acceptance of all life's choices and chances encountered. May her memory remain as a blessing to her family and many friends. Marianne was privately interred at Fernwood Cemetery, 301 Tennessee Valley Rd., Mill Valley on December 19, 2008. Family and friends are invited to a memorial service celebrating Marianne's life on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 11:00 AM at Lakeside Temple of Practical Christianity, 144 Athol Ave., Oakland, CA 94606. Luncheon to follow at Francesco's Restaurant, Hegenberger Rd. & Pardee Dr., Oakland. Please consider a donation in Marianne's name to: Fix Our Ferals, P.O. Box 13083, Berkeley, CA 94712, or Earthwatch Institute, 3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard, MA, 01754, or to a charity of choice.