Marie Alice Westphalen

Marie Alice Westphalen was born on October 7, 1930, in Los Angeles, California, to Philip and Beatrice Nolen.

She passed away on June 12, 2015, in Whittier, California.

Marie grew up and went to school in Los Angeles, California, and married Mike Gutierrez shortly after graduation.

Her second marriage was to Donald Westphalen, in Big Bear, California in 1978. Donald passed in 1993.



She is survived by her 3 children: Suzanne Edwards, Christine Sharif and Andrew Gutierrez; 4 granddaughters, Katherine Sharif, Elizabeth Sharifzadeh, Victoria Gutierrez, and Jacqueline Gutierrez; 1 step-granddaughter, Sarah Sharifzadeh. Her brother, Philip Nolan preceded her in death.



Marie lived in the Los Angeles area all of her life. She resided in Marina Del Rey from 1998-2012, then she moved to Carlsbad, California, from 2012-May 5, 2015; when she moved to live with her son, Andrew and daughter in law, Janet and their two daughters, Victoria and Jacqueline, until her passing on June 12, 2015.



Marie worked for various stock brokerage firms from 1966 through her retirement in 1998. At the time of her retirement, she worked as an assistant to Tom Hale , VP at Wedbush-Morgan. She loved her job there!



Maries hobby and interest centered around music. She loved theatre, musical theatre, and symphonic concerts, but her first love was Jazz, and the many friends of jazz and jazz musicians she met along the way from the LA jazz scene, as well, as on her many travels.

She traveled with friends on several jazz cruises throughout the last 17 years. She was quick to make friends wherever she went loved people leaving lasting memories of great times with old friends and always making new friends who couldnt resist her energy, positive spirit , enthusiasm, and LOVE OF LIFE!



Marie was, in great part, responsible for legendary jazz D.J. Chuck Niles, receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.



She travelled within the U.S., Canada and Europe. Marie loved cruises, especially jazz cruises, as well as, those taken with her granddaughters: Katherine Sharif on a Caribbean cruise in December, 2008, and Victoria Gutierrez, in September 2014 in Italy. She celebrated her 80th birthday with her daughter Suzanne and son-in-law, Gary, on a ' Fall Colors Cruise up the St. Lawrence River/Quebec, Canada, ending in New York Harbor. In 2005, she accompanied her sons family to Orlando for granddaughter, Jacques performance (flute) with the school Wind Ensemble; a trip to Kauai with Suzanne, Gary, and the Gutierrez family: Andrew, Janet, Tori and Jacque in July 2001; Paris with granddaughter, Kathie, and Kathies friend, Debby in 2003. She enjoyed her recent trip to San Francisco, December 2014, with daughter, Suzanne and son-in-law, Gary, to visit her granddaughter Beth. She had many other trip adventures in between. There are so many special, shared memories we will all treasure.



She loved animals, especially her rescue dogs, Jazzy and later Diva who were her constant companions.



In Maries three years while living in Carlsbad, she attended St. Patricks Catholic Church.



Marie was a 15-year volunteer with the Education Guild of the Los Angeles Music Center, becoming President toward her later time with the organization. She was responsible for many innovative changes in the Guild, and served on several committees. She loved interacting with the talented high-school students during the annual Music Center Spotlight Awards helping wherever needed. She truly loved her interaction with the children of the annual Very Special Arts Festival. It was a joy in her life!



To quote a long-time volunteer member of the Education Guild, Lovey Sherman:



She was so very dedicated and committed to the cause. She was professional and poised and fit her role as an Executive Secretary, but when she joined the Education Guild and began her hands on work with children, she was a natural!!!. The Education Guild was a perfect fit! She joined, took a leadership position and was singularly responsible for many positive changes in the Guild. She was a mover and a shaker! She unselfishly served on many committees, and so enjoyed each event and her interaction with the children. She found joy in all of her volunteer work. She has left us with memories that will never be forgotten.