Colebourne, Marlene,
58, of Costa Mesa passed away Thursday, August 9, 2012. She was born Marlene Braga in Taunton, Massachusetts and graduated from Bishop Cassidy High School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Marlene can best be described as charming, intelligent and vivacious - an all-American girl, head cheerleader and the girl every guy had a secret crush on. After college, she moved west to Orange County where she began her career as a special education teacher. She met the love of her life in the form of a British gentleman, Paul Colebourne, and they married in 1992.
In her later career, Marlene was dedicated to giving back to her community as the Major Gifts Coordinator for the Hoag Hospital Foundation where she organized and managed fundraising and donor events including the Circle 1000 Brunch, Renaissance Hoag, Donor Appreciation Party, Jazz Festival, Christmas Festival of the Trees, among others. She was also instrumental in the development and maintenance of the global donor walls in the hospital and cancer center. During her 14 years at Hoag Hospital, she also acted as the Medical Staff Coordinator in the Medical Staff Services Department, and Executive Secretary for the Anesthesiology Department. Marlene touched countless hearts with her overwhelming generosity, amazing charm, quick wit and artistic style. She was truly a beautiful woman - both inside and out.
She is survived by Paul Colebourne, her husband of 20 years; her parents, William and Amarie Braga of Taunton, MA; her brother, Robert Braga of Taunton, her sister Suzanne Chapman of Bedford, MA; her nieces, Chelsea, Ashley and Brianna Colebourne of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, along with relatives throughout New England, Wisconsin, California, Australia and the United Kingdom.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of her to the Hoag Hospital Foundation to benefit Circle 1000 - 500 Superior Avenue, Suite 350, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 764-7217. A memorial mass will be held on Tuesday, August 14th at 11 AM at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church located at 1015 Baker Street in Costa Mesa.
