OBITUARY

Marilyn A. Abbatiello

March 13, 1947 – January 12, 2021
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Marilyn A. Abbatiello

Marilyn Abbatiello, a longtime resident of Babylon, New York passed away at the age of 73 on the morning of January 12. Marilyn was born on March 13, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York. She was the older sister to Pamela and beloved daughter to Mary and Leon Zimecki.

Marilyn attended St. Gerard’s Elementary School, Jamaica High School, and Thorpe Secretarial School before graduating and matriculating into Queens College for one year.

She met her future husband, Thomas, on Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York on July 4, 1962 when she was 15 and he was 17 years-old. They married in November 1968, after postponing the wedding for a year while Thomas served in the Army in Vietnam. Together, the couple share a daughter, Danielle, born in September 1969.

In 1973, Thomas built their house in Babylon. The couple remained Village residents until 2009 when they moved to North Babylon. Over the years, Marilyn opened her door to many family members, either for extended visits or long term housing.

Marilyn held numerous positions over the years, most notably working as an Executive Assistant to the CEO of Quik Park in Manhattan, New York. She lovingly volunteered as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and Class Mother, and allowed her daughters’ classmates to build their homecoming float in her backyard for two consecutive years.

In her later years, Marilyn became a seasoned traveler, journeying abroad to England, France, Spain, and Italy. She and her husband were avid Long Island boaters and cruisers, often traveling with members of the “Birthday Club” to an array of tropical destinations and to Alaska. Marilyn was also a member of the “Desperate Bookworms” and a regular at weekly card games and Bingo with the “Woods Edge Ladies.”

Those who knew her considered Marilyn to be playful, confident, strong, and a role model to others. Marilyn wasn’t afraid to join in on the fun with her nieces and nephews, or be the first on the dance floor at a wedding. She embodied love, forgiveness, and friendship. Though she lost her long-fought battle with lung cancer, her legacy demonstrates her resilient spirit and serves as a testament of strength to those she leaves behind.

Marilyn is survived by her husband, sister, brother-in-law, daughter, nieces and nephews, and her many loving and lifelong friends. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or Disabled American Veterans.

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  • Visitation

    Friday, January 15, 2021

  • Funeral Mass

    Friday, January 15, 2021

  • Interment

    Friday, January 15, 2021

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Marilyn A. Abbatiello

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Barbara Calvo-Moran

January 24, 2021

How do you narrow down decades of friendship into a few short sentences? Marilyn and I became fast friends in grammar school, danced our way through high school, met and married our husbands, and had our daughters together.
Over the years, we shared so many adventures with one another. I think my favorite adventure with Marilyn was our trip to Puerto Rico. It marked the first time either of us were on an airplane and it was the first trip either of us took without our parents.
At 18, we thought we were so grown up. After our parents saw us off at the airport, we spent the trip dressing up and going out. Needless to say, we had a spectacular time.
Marilyn and I were always there for each other; we shared the good times, the sad times, and everything in between. In our later years, we once again enjoyed traveling together. In Alaska, we flew in a helicopter and landed on an ice glazer. We also went on many cruises together.
In addition to our trips, we were lucky to become neighbors. I was so happy the day Marilyn and Tom moved into Woods Edge. Living so close to one another allowed us to go shopping, to the beach, to lunch, and best of all, sneak off to Friendly’s for an ice cream soda.
Marilyn I will miss you beyond belief.
Love and till I see you again your forever friend,
Barbara

Madelyn Bruno

January 24, 2021

I'll always remember Aunt Marilyn for letting me practice my make up skills on her (from a very young age 😊) and teaching me the best songs. "We won't go to Macy's any more, more, more...". Thank you for being such an awesome aunt. I love you and will miss you so much.

Matthew Bruno

January 23, 2021

Dear Aunt Marilyn,

I will remember you for your beautiful energy, kindness, laughter & love. And for your courage, resilience and strength in the face of adversity. I am truly grateful for our time together and although you are gone, your spirit lives on with us...

With Love & Gratitude,

Matt

Danielle Abbatiello

January 22, 2021

My mother was strong, resilient, confident and beautiful. She was kind, always opened her doors to those in need, and instilled in me the importance of charity. She was someone who was sometimes my enemy but always my advocate.
My mother encouraged my love of theater, and fostered my creativity. She sought to instill in me the importance of education, the value of words, and the appreciation of artistry. She took me to museums, and to see plays, musicals, operas and ballets. I don’t think I would have gone into creative writing without her encouragement.
As a child, my mother read me Shel Silverstein poems; I have been able to recite the poem SICK in its entirety since I was 5 years old.
She was one of my Girl Scout Leaders and she often served as class mother. She knew all of my friends, always allowed me to host slumber parties, and permitted my classmates and I to build our homecoming float in the backyard for two years in a row.
In my teens, our relationship became a little more tumultuous. Maybe that’s typical of teen girls and their mothers. But we weathered the storm and started a yearly tradition of traveling together. We went to Las Vegas, England, France, Spain, Italy, and Savannah, Georgia. We had so many more trips planned, but she got sick.
In the end, if I had to tell one story that best illustrates our relationship, it would have to be how I found out the truth about Santa. For some reason, Santa always left my Christmas stocking at the foot of my bed. One year, when I was 7 and still believed, I woke up to the horror of my mother, not Santa, placing my stocking. I screamed and accused her of killing Santa. Without missing a beat, she waved her arms saying, “This is an illusion…You are dreaming…Go back to sleep…” We never discussed what happened. But from that year on, Santa left my stocking in my parents’ bedroom so as to not disturb me.

Alexandra Soto

January 22, 2021

Marilyn,

Your friendship with my father Alix will never be forgotten. I know you are both smiling down on us now happily reunited but Earth has lost another angel. You are so loved and I will never forget all our boating memories. Thank you for being such an amazing fun, loving all around great woman.

Love Didi (Alexandra Soto nee Vincent)

Thomas Abbatiello

January 22, 2021

My Marilyn and I have been together for 59 years, and married almost 53 years. She was the best person I ever knew. She took a lot of bologna from me but she always continued to like me.
After we got married, we raised a daughter together, and loved our life in Babylon Village.
We used to have a boat, which I named Sparkle Plenty in honor of a childhood nickname her parents had given to her. She loved the boat, and we had many great times out of the ocean. Friends and family were regulars, and she taught everyone who came onboard how to clam.
After 37 years, we decided to sell our house in Babylon to move to Woods Edge in North Babylon. Here, she enjoyed the carefree lifestyle of weekly card games and Bingo, and she enjoyed going to the pool during the summers.
Over the years, we went on many trips; we traveled extensively throughout Europe, all over the Caribbean and to Alaska. We para sailed, swam with dolphins, took a helicopter to a glacier, and stayed in a villa in Tuscany. Marilyn loved the Greek Islands, though she found Athens to only be OK. During our last trip, to Islamorada in the Florida Keys in 2016, My Marilyn was feeling better. At that point, we thought that our adventures together would continue for many more years.
I'm sorry I am rambling on, and though there is a whole lot more I could say, I will leave you with this thought, I loved My Marilyn beyond measure, will miss her very much, and cannot imagine my life without her.
She will be My Marilyn forever.
Till we meet again...
Tom

Candy Gavin

January 22, 2021

MARILYN was one of the most special, loving, and beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure to have in my life. We became best friends in high school. She became the sister I always wanted. We have been through so many things together some very good, and others not so good.
I was in her wedding party when she married Tom and together, THEY are GOD parents to my son.
This is the hardest loss I have ever felt. I can’t imagine what Tom and Danielle are feeling right now. I will always be there for the two of them, and I pray that anyone reading this will too. May she come to all of us in our DREAMS.
ALL MY LOVE ❤️
CANDY

Michele McHugh

January 22, 2021

To a life well lived and a woman whose life has positively impacted all of us that had the honor to have known her and shared life with her. I have only happy memories of all the times I’ve spent with you. Until we met again, please watch over all of us. Love you always, Michele Xoxo

Angela Messina

January 22, 2021

Dear Marilyn, I will miss your beautiful smile and laugh. You always had a way to make everyone laugh. You will be missed.

I love you and really miss you.

Love, Your Friend, always, Angie.

Sara Bruno

January 21, 2021

I have so many great memories. Our NYC American Girl Doll trip and talks about true crime stories have always been my favorites. I always had so much fun with Aunt Marilyn. I'm going to miss her so much!

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