April 27, 1935 ~ Dec. 11, 2024
Marlborough – Marilyn Perry, having lived a full and purposeful life, passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at Shrewsbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 27, 1935, she spent her life in a friendly and thoughtful manner, touching countless lives with her spirited energy.
Marilyn was the loving wife of the late Manuel Perry Jr. and the devoted mother of Cheryl, Duane, and Elizabeth as well as a beloved grandmother to her grandson Trystan.
She was also a cherished sister of Mary Spinosa, Cynthia Viola, and Martha Casella.
An adventurous traveler, Marilyn explored National Parks of the United States as well as visited the Middle East, the Far East, the Fiords and the ruins of Bosnia. She joined a family on the coast of Patagonia and wore a burka to dine with a Bedouin family in Saudi Arabia.
In spite of her experiencing life in other countries, she never neglected her home community of Marlborough, Massachusetts.
In recognition of her community service, Marilyn Perry was named Humanitarian of the Year by Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant at the 2016 Mayor’s Ball.
The award recognized her service as a Marlborough At Large City Councilor who introduced legislation dealing with zoning, municipal planning, human services and personnel. She served as director of the Marlborough Red Cross and founder and executive director of the Marlborough Emergency Services which included the Food Pantry. She served as chairman of the Marlborough Centennial Celebration Committee.
Marilyn Perry was one of the founders of the GFWC Marlborough Junior Woman’s Club, serving as president and climbing the ranks and serving as GFWC of MA Director of Junior Clubs. For some time she worked at the GFWC Massachusetts Headquarters in Sudbury. She lived the Junior motto “living each day trying to accomplish something, not merely to exist.”
As a member of the Rotary Club of Marlborough, Marilyn served as president and continued working for community programs. She was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest Rotary award.
Marilyn was a member of the Marlborough Democratic Committee and when it came to politics, she was a “Big D Democrat” in support of the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates.
When Marilyn and Manny’s friend, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, became a candidate for President of the United States, they traveled to Iowa to support his campaign.
In her “spare time” she at one time was an HR specialist at Digital Equipment Corporation.
Her friends in the Morning Money Makers stock investment club remember her as one eager to learn how to build a profitable stock portfolio.
She has been active at the Church of the Nativity in Northborough where her funeral will be held on Friday, Dec. 20, at 10 a.m.
Visiting hours for Marilyn will be held Thursday, December 19, 2024, from 3:00-7:00PM at the Slattery Funeral Home, Inc., 40 Pleasant St., Marlborough, MA 01752. A funeral service will be held Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Church of the Nativity, 45 Howard St., Northborough, MA 01532. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Wilson St., Marlborough.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to GFWC, Marlboro Junior Women’s Club, P.O. Box 934, Marlborough, MA 01752 or The Rotary Club of Marlborough, P.O. Box 186, Marlborough, MA 01752.
