Marilyn June Stern Richardson

Marilyn June Stern Richardson, 94, died on April 20, 2020, at Saint Anne Home in Fort Wayne, Indiana with her daughter, Janet, and trusted caregivers by her side. Born on June 16, 1925 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she was the beloved only child of William Julius and Minnie Josephine (Johnson) Stern. As a child during the Great Depression, Marilyn learned to find joy in simple pleasures, an outlook she embraced throughout her life. She treasured time spent reading thought-provoking books, composing long, thoughtful, hand-written letters to loved ones, and sharing time one-on-one with dear friends. As a smart and pretty student at South High School in Minneapolis, Marilyn caught the eye of her classmate, Paul Richardson. The sweethearts were engaged in 1944 before Paul shipped overseas to serve during WWII. During the war, Marilyn graduated from the Northwestern Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis and proudly served in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps. The couple married in 1946 and were together for 39 years. In the early years, Marilyn supported the family as a nurse while Paul attended the University of Minnesota on the GI Bill. In 1952 they moved to Wilmington, Delaware where they raised their family; a son, Steven and two daughters, Ann and Janet. Marilyn was a devoted mother who enjoyed being involved in her children’s schools, scout troops and activities. She enjoyed taking many courses at the Academy of Lifelong Learning at the University of Delaware and serving as a volunteer for Delaware Hospice. She was proud to serve as a volunteer for the presidential campaigns of both Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern. Throughout her years in Wilmington, Marilyn was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and was called to serve her church community as a deacon and a Stephen Minister. For the last 28 years, Marilyn made her home near her daughter Janet and her husband Andy and their children. One of the most fulfilling chapters of Marilyn’s life was the two years she helped to care for her youngest granddaughter, Becky, as an infant. Marilyn followed the Katz family’s moves from Beachwood, Ohio to Oberlin, Ohio and finally to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1999. Marilyn lived at Saint Ann Home for 10 years where she was known for her beautiful smile and for her friendships with several of the staff members who lovingly cared for her. Marilyn will always be affectionately remembered as a caring and loving Mother, Grandma and Nana by her family and a thoughtful and generous friend by her dear friends and extended family. Sadness in Marilyn’s death is tempered by sweet memories of time spent with her sharing meaningful conversations, discussing a good book, listening to music that stirred her soul, caring for her flowers, and ending each visit with a warm hug and a soft kiss on the cheek. Marilyn held a deep and abiding love for each of her three children, Steven Paul Richardson of Wilmington, Delaware, Dr. Ann Meredith Richardson Chmura of Geneva, New York, and Janet Richardson Katz and her dear son-in-law, Dr. Andrew Katz of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Marilyn was immensely proud of each of her seven grandchildren: Stephanie (Jay) Baxter, Stuart (Melanie) Richardson, Steven W. Richardson, Helen Chmura (fiancé Tom Glass), Claire Chmura (husband Dr. David Berke), Jamie Katz (partner Briana Zweifler), and Becky (Kyung) Liu-Katz. Each of her five precious great-grandchildren brought her much joy: Hannah Baxter, Katie Baxter, Julia Richardson, Jace Richardson and Henry Berke. A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware at a later date when her family and friends are able to come together. In lieu of flowers, please remember Marilyn by seeking out an old friend or loved one and sharing a meaningful conversation with them. Smile when you enjoy a dish of ice cream or a tall vodka tonic with a generous squeeze of fresh lime on a summer evening and know she is with you. In honor of all those who faithfully care for residents at Saint Anne Home and for those in need around the world, the family asks that contributions in Marilyn’s memory be made to Saint Anne Communities https://sacfw.org/ or Doctors Without Borders https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/.