Marilyn J Wallace

Born and raised in the Roseland neighborhood, Marilyn was known to fight bullies on roller skates and stick up for her two younger brothers, whether they wanted the help or not. During the depression, when food was scarce, her mother taught her to chew every bite thirty-two times to make it last. Her family can attest to how long it took her to complete a meal and her fervency of preserving pantry items and leftovers.

As a young girl, her eyebrows were completely singed away in a small house fire. Her morning ritual, for decades, involved carefully penciling in her eyebrows before she faced the world. As we all do in one way or another, she crafted and fashioned herself the way she wanted to be seen.

Marilyn graduated from Fenger High School and married her sweetheart and childhood best friend, Wayne, during his years of service in World War II. In the 1950s, after they outgrew their family's two-flat, Marilyn and Wayne migrated west to Hometown, and in the early 1960s built their dream home in the prairies of Oak Lawn. For 25-years Marilyn worked at Illinois Bell where she built a strong community of friends and fellow revelers. Married to an avid bowler and golfer, Marilyn played on a couples bowling league with Wayne and for many years participated in a local women's golf league. For a month every fall they would travel to Myrtle Beach to extend their golf season.

After her first husband Wayne died suddenly and unexpectedly, she found solace, companionship, and love with her second husband, Bob. Marilyn and Bob were together for over 20 years and their fiery tempers and flare for theatrics made memorable and exciting holidays.

Marilyn adored parties and social gatherings of any kind. She was the first to offer and accept a cocktail, and was famous with her grandchildren for her weekly hair appointments, ancient pantry items, and stashes of candy. She loved chocolate, traveling and golfing with her husbands, socializing with dear friends and retirees in the Pioneers Club.

Marilyn lived a long and full life and lost many family members and close friends along the way. She is survived by her youngest brother Ronald, son Barry (Susan), daughter Vicki (James), stepsons James (Doreen), Patrick and Bruce (Suzanne), grandchildren Lori, Erik, Jill, Emma, Ginger, Rachel, Jennifer, Tabitha, Michelle, Jeff, Timothy, and Kevin, great-grandchildren Simone, Bruce, Calvin, Ruby, Oliver, Heather, Alexis, and Jase.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her birth father Jacob, her parents Lida and Arthur, her brother Robert, her husbands, Wayne and Robert, her stepdaughter Lynne (Dennis), her stepson Terrance (Darlene), and grandson John.

In lieu of flowers, it is Marilyn's wish for family and friends to contribute to charities she long and ardently supported: St. Luke's Children's Hospital, Veteran non-profit organizations, food pantries, or homeless shelters.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.blakelamboaklawn.com for the Wallace family.