Marlowe Ann Savelle
April 13, 1945-Jan. 6, 2026
Menlo Park/Napa, California
Submitted by Kristen Savelle

Marlowe Ann Hadeler (later Savelle) was born in 1945 at Stanford Hospital in San Francisco and grew up in Menlo Park, where she attended Menlo-Atherton High School. She attended college at the University of New Mexico and then did something many people dream about and few actually do: she went to Europe—and stayed. While there, she met and married Marc Savelle and welcomed her first daughter, Alexa, in 1974. She returned to the United States before her second daughter, Kristen, was born in 1977.

In 1979, Marlowe co-founded Cookie Habit with her sister, Marcia Hadeler, and her close friend, Sonja Sheffield. The shop quickly became a Palo Alto favorite, recognizable by its whimsical Alice-in-Wonderland-style door and doorknob, and beloved for its oatmeal-butterscotch-chocolate-chip-walnut cookies and legendary golden brownies. For 20 years, Marlowe helped make Cookie Habit a place people returned to again and again for treats, conversation, and a genuine sense of welcome. At a time when female-owned businesses were the exception, Cookie Habit inspired a new generation of young girls to believe they could achieve anything.

Deeply involved in her community, Marlowe was an active member of the Palo Alto Junior League and an enthusiastic volunteer for her children’s sports teams and school fundraisers. She had a special talent for showing up, pitching in, and making things run smoothly, often with cookies in hand.

After closing Cookie Habit, Marlowe moved to Napa in 1999. She was present for the births of all five of her grandchildren and spent many weekends helping them with arts and crafts projects, making treats (for herself as much as for them), and watching Disney films. Within her family, she was the chief holiday organizer, bringing together extended relatives for celebrations big and small, stuffing Christmas stockings, and hiding Easter eggs.

Marlowe had many passions. She had a sweet tooth and never turned down dessert. She loved jewelry, swimming pools, music, Lake Tahoe summers, and warm Palm Desert nights. She enjoyed competitive games of dominoes with family and evenings watching her beloved Dodgers. A devoted reader, she had a particular fascination with historical fiction, the Gilded Age, and British aristocracy, as well as a lifelong curiosity about her ancestry. She spent many happy hours researching her family tree.

Above all, Marlowe loved her family and dedicated herself fully to her children, grandchildren, and extended relatives. She is survived by her children, Alexa Savelle Cutler and Kristen Savelle; her son-in-law, Cory Greene; her grandchildren Evan Greene, Mackenzie Cutler, Lane Greene, Cassidy Cutler, and Summer Greene; her brother, Robert W. Hadeler Jr.; her sister, Marcia Hadeler; her sister-in-law, Sarah Hadeler; her nieces, Tara Hadeler and Victoria Hadeler; and her nephews, Robert Kyle Hadeler and Josh Hadeler.

Marlowe’s life was marked by curiosity, generosity, community, and a very good cookie recipe. She will be remembered with affection, gratitude, and lots of love.

Tags: business