Marilyn Ann Smith

Birth date: Mar 10, 1939 Death date: Sep 12, 2014

Smith, Marilyn Ann, 75, of Trinity, passed away on Friday, September 12, 2014. Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations to American Cancer Society. Read Obituary

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Julie Forestieri (Niece)

575w ago

Hi Uncle Howard, Eric and Shelley,
I just wanted to take the time to write down some memories of your mom. She was my favorite aunt and I will miss her. So here is my walk down memory lane. Love you guys.
Julie
I remember the last day I saw you guys before you moved to New Jersey. I was so sad because you were going to be so far away, and I would not get to see you very often. I always felt close to your family. After Steve and I got married, he was going to Boston on business during Thanksgiving week. I decided to go too, but I had to take a different flight. As luck (or serendipity) would have it, I had a layover in Newark that was half a day long. Marilyn and Howard (and Eric?) picked me up at the airport and whisked me away to dinner (Italian food, yum!) Then they took me to where Eric went to college, because it had a great view of the Manhattan skyline. It was amazing standing there looking across the river with Marilyn and Howard pointing and naming landmarks. It was a magical day for me. Marilyn was so welcoming and entertaining and fun. When I was back at the airport getting ready to leave, Marilyn invited me and Steve to come and visit again for a longer time.
Steve and I accepted Aunt Marilyn's invitation to stay at her New Jersey home for a week in 1986. The house was beautiful and welcoming. Eric and Shelley were still living at home. And, there was Casey the dog! We stayed in the basement using a fold-out sofa bed. It was very cozy. Marilyn was a great hostess full of ideas for things we should do. We saw many amazing sites, but my favorite memories are the ones with the whole family. In the basement, Howard would watch Shogun and Marilyn would be doing something at her desk. Dinner with the family was enjoyable, because the conversation was interesting.
One day, Howard and Marilyn drove us to Philadelphia to see the sites. We toured the Mint and Independence Hall, and we saw the Liberty Bell and Ben Franklin's grave. We saw an old church too. We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant, but we were wearing jeans. Marilyn predicted we would probably be seated near the kitchen. (She was right!)
Steve and I had so much fun getting to know you guys. We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation in New Jersey because we had the best hosts in the world.
The next time I went back east was for Shelley's wedding. My mom , my daughter and I all stayed at Marilyn's Connecticut home. Marilyn was so thoughtful -- She prepared the house for a toddler. She put up a gate across the stairs so Sara wouldn't fall. I think she arranged for a crib, too. She also found a babysitter for Sara because she was too young to go to the wedding. It was a very busy week, but Marilyn and Howard found time to take us on a walk through the town. I remember it being very quaint. Howard and Marilyn made for a dashing couple at Shelley's wedding. It was a happy day.
In 2010, Marilyn came to San Jose to see her brother Bill who was in the hospital. Bill was on life support, and Marilyn explained the situation. She gave a great deal of support to Bill's kids and Anita. After the funeral, we did manage to have some fun. We went to our favorite breakfast place Cafe San Jose. My kids all got to know Marilyn, and they instantly loved her. She was funny and smart and down-to-earth.
In 2011, my mother went through a health scare. What we thought was appendicitis became a case of possible cancer. During this scary time, I would be taking care of my mom in her hospital room. I often called Marilyn and reported Mom's progress, what the doctors had said, what meds she was on. Marilyn explained things to me and reassured me and gave me questions to ask the doctor. She was a godsend during this experience. I felt reassured and comforted by Marilyn.
My last experiences with Marilyn involved talking about Jansen genealogy. I got a lot of info from her, and she gave me a few loose ends she wanted me to work on. My favorite talk with her was when I asked her to describe my paren

Bobbie Burton

575w ago

I miss you Marilyn. You're in my thoughts daily. Your love and advice will be carried with me. I would like to share the eulogy with everyone who loved Marilyn.

Bobbie’s Eulogy for her beloved sister Marilyn:

Good Morning, my name is Bobbie Burton. I am Marilyn’s sister, best friend and confidant. I would talk to my sister just about every night. I treasured these special moments and will miss them. I came out to help Howard and Marilyn through a difficult time but didn’t expect the sudden reversal.
Marilyn was diagnosed this past July with a life threatening illness. She and Howard decided to take it on together to keep as much time as she could with their family. Marilyn was fighting so hard when she had this sudden and unexpected reversal. This robbed her of the time we all still thought we had together.

Marilyn had the biggest heart. She showed this in so many small ways.
• Anything anyone would need, she was there for you.
• Being a nurse, she was almost like a country doctor to her friends, explaining everything in simple terms to ease their fears.
• It was her nature to find special surprises just to brighten your day.
• So many times she made any problem better by just talking with you. Whether you were next door or 3000 miles away, I am sure you all have these instances when she did the same for you.
• She would always keep money in her car ashtray that she would give to someone in need.
• Friends would always joke that “You know you’re at the Smiths’ when they are offering you food.”
• And as most of you know Marilyn felt anything could be fixed with a trip to the salon for a mani/pedi.
She deeply loved her husband Howard and felt blessed by the 53 year relationship they created. Their love of family only grew with the addition of their children Eric and Shelley. They felt even more blessed when Shelley married Scott and extended their family with the arrival of their grandchildren Erin and Sean. I don’t remember a time when she wouldn’t see something that would make her Grandchildren Erin or Sean happy.
Howard and Marilyn lived life to the fullest. They traveled, shared time with their friends and family, and enjoyed daily life together. Marilyn will walk with all of us every day. In closing I would like to share this poem that I found tucked away in her Missal:

Fly like a bird, my Lord, my soul
I want to soar like an eagle
Though I may journey far away from home
I know I’ll never be alone.

Oh God, you know who I am
You know my hopes and my dreams
In my pondering and fears
In my joy and in my tears
O God, your presence is real

Where can I run from you lover?
Where can I hide from my God?
From the dark of morning’s light
To the darkness of the night
Oh God, your presence is real.

When I am down and afraid
When I am falling away
You extend a gentle hand
And I know you understand
Oh God, your presence is real.

Eric Smith

575w ago

Mom

I will always love you and miss you. Other people had a mother, I had a mom. I always felt loved and felt free to love in return and you and dad made a loving and nurturing home to which we could always return. You and dad gave me so much by being there for us, and providing an example of family and faith. You also gifted us by your example how to live a good life: to celebrate rather than commiserate a birthday, to love and take care of each other, to try new things, make food and share it with friends and family, to be a good friend, and to accept people as they are. I will most miss the little things, the occasional random card or gift, and article on things you thought I would like, and the thoughtful gifts to mark birthdays and holidays, and just talking with you each week no matter how separated we are in distance. Christmas will be especially hard since that was our special holiday together and I enjoyed so much planning it for months, spending time with you and dad, cooking with you, and dining with our family, friends, and guests. Mostly I will just miss just being able to talk with you. I love you.

Eric

She was always the consummate host she always tried to ensure people felt welcomed and that was symbolized by the way she always had more than enough food for everyone that visited and they were given food to take home to anyone that could not make it

She was always available to anyone that needed minor medical treatment or to help people make sense of their condition, define questions to ask their health care provider, or just listen to you talk through their fears

She was up early to greet you in the morning with cheerful good morning, a hug, and anything you wanted for breakfast

She was always there for you to take you to an event that was important to you or to the hobby shop for that must have magazine or model

She was always there to listen when you had a problem or just wanted to talk.

She did so many things in the background so you never even knew she was there but your life was so much better for it

She made a community by communicating with friends and relatives and passing news, making meals or organizing events where people could meet and talk

She set an example for us with her love of Dad, educating herself once we were old enough to not need as much attention, the things she did for the family, and the things she did for others.

Mary & Jerry Heron

575w ago

I have some wonderful memories of time spent with Marilyn, one was our trip to California and what a week it was, just the two of us from San Francisco to Slovang and back to San Francisco shopping, shopping, shopping.
Another was a day at Paramus Mall, Marilyn driving from Ct. and I drove up from Scotch Plains, what fun we had that day and there are many more times in my memory bank.
She will be missed.
Mary Heron

Late on a Saturday in 1980, one of our son’s arrived home from the St. Bart’s Fair with a cut foot caused by a rusty piece of metal. I told him to be prepared for a long night at the Muhlenberg emergency room to receive sutures and a tetanus shot, and if he was lucky Marilyn would be on duty, and she was!! everything turned out fine.
She will be missed.
Jerry Heron

Mary Ann Dalton

575w ago

May you Rest in Peace, Dear Marilyn.......For 15 years you've been my good friend and confidante--always cheerful and positive whenever I needed you. And when Bill and I needed a nurse, you were right at hand. You, Howard and Eric made our Christmases most memorable--with those fabulous dinners and wonderful holiday ambiance (oh, those gorgeous village displays!--such artistic talent, patience and fortitude!)

Dear Howard, Shelley, Eric, and Grandkids....I can only imagine how very much you will miss Marilyn. Thoughts and prayers from Bill and me are with you all.

Love,
Mary Ann

Francene

575w ago

Hi Eric, We're so sorry to hear about your mom! We'll remember you and your family in our prayers. Francene and Dave

Sean Mclarnon

575w ago

Grandma, every day I have been thinking of you, replaying over and over the memories, the times we spent together. I remember blowing bubbles in my chocolate milk with you when Erin and I were 3. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and, after you saw the kitchen light on, came in to see who was there. We stayed up late, talking, reading the funnies and having snacks. I recall trips to Publix, making cookies, and that time at starbucks where you said “let’s go poop.” I think the name came from a whine the pooh reference, which to us was a normal, but everyone else in starbucks that heard you probably thought you had to leave for a completely different reason. We laughed about it in the car. There are so many more that will be with me forever. I miss you so much, I miss talking to you. Theres pieces of you everywhere tho, all of our photo albums you made for us from summer vacations, to my shadow box with me EMT patches, badge, and medals. Everything so detailed and organized. I love you so much, I will miss you every day, and cherish every moment we spent together.

Love,

Sean

Ed & Betty

575w ago

Oh, Marilyn such memories from the heart.
You were such a joy to have as a friend for over 40 years and a good neighbor for over 10 years. It was our lucky day when we picked Howard up for a lift to the bus stop on a cold December day in 1972, when he had just moved to New Jersey and you were still in California completing your nursing degree. Then, that summer you along with Eric & Shelly came into our lives and that is when the fun started. Talking about fun over the years with our Dinner Group and the Fall weekend’s at the Jersey Shore. Our special memories are of your Christmas Eve Dinner’s with the Shrimp Boil, crusty bread and your famous Oriental Salad (which I still cherish). We bonded even more when you had your equilibrium problem and you and Casey stayed with us when Howard was in Virginia. I even got over my fear of big dogs when Casey would welcome us home from work looking out the window for us. The Florida years we should have seen each other more often, however, we got caught up in travel, etc. I am so happy that we got to see you, Howard and your handsome grandson Sean for my 70th and Florence’s 90th Birthday’s, I wish it had been longer. Dearest Marilyn you are no longer in pain and may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Your loving friends,
Ed & Betty Mangold

Howard Smith

575w ago

My God, I miss you … I try not to be angry with Him for taking you away from me after 53 years of marriage; however, I know you are now with Him, without the daily physical and mental torments associated with your illness. For 53 years we toiled together to build first a life for ourselves and then to create a family, welcoming into our relationship Eric and Shelley. Together we toiled in our professions to make a good life for our family and to enjoy the fruits of our labors. You were a great wife and companion; mother; grandmother to Sean and Erin; and friend to many whose lives are richer as a result of touching your life. In our years together we moved up and down the California landscape where we build homes and established life-styles around new environments, neighbors and friends. You never complained or hesitated to pick up and move to another rural town or brisk city to obtain the benefits from career moves and promotions – even to Arizona, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut for Amstar and later to our own business in Virginia. By choice, the move to Florida was to be our last “change of station” – a move in which we further enriched our lives with great associations and friendships. We were finally able to say “this is it forever” -- you are now in your final resting place here in Trinity Memorial Gardens -- the place where we lovingly described it as our final home purchase.

My only regret is that I did not tell you “I LOVE YOU” more often and thank you for the wonders of the life we had together. In time I will learn to live without you, but I will never forget the ups and downs, pain and joys, and travels we experienced together. You always supported me and “had my back.” I know you will continue to do so from your heavenly home and intercede with the Almighty when I displease him – which I hope is not too often!

So with this final last written message to you, I say “I LOVE YOU; I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YOU; AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR THE REST OF MY EARTHLY LIFE!”

Yours forever,
Howard

[email protected]

575w ago

Dear Eric, Howard and Shelley,

From all that I know about Marilyn, she was an incredible woman. I am able to attest, first hand, to the important values in life which she instilled in her children; those being that a good work ethic, making wise choices and the importance of support from family and friends makes a journey so much more productive and pleasant. Without meeting her, I can also see how she admired aesthetic beauty and craft and nurturing of one's soul, be it through doctrine, literature, good conversation, etc. Her legacy will live on through her husband Howard, and her children Eric and Shelley, Thanks Marilyn for making the world such a better place! Although I never got to meet her, I am enjoying the fruits of her labor, and count my blessings in doing so,

Julie Forestieri (Niece)

575w ago

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