Marilyn S. Ossmann

Marilyn Susan Ossmann, 82, passed away peacefully March 23, and reunited with her many loved dogs and cats in Heaven. Marilyn was born in New York City to Sabina and Emanuel Balzan days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, 1941. Marilyn was predeceased by her parents. Sabina and Emanuel Balzan. She had golden retriever mix named “Boy” that she would dress up and cart around in her wagon. Raised in Astoria, Queens, she worked for a loan company, Sperry Rand, and eventually the position as executive secretary for Maurice Tempelsman in New York City. She married Frank Ossmann (the guy across the street) in 1969. At the time she had an Irish setter puppy named Shari who became attracted to Frank and the romance evolved from there. She left the city life to help Frank renovate their beach house in Long Beach, Long Island and procured a position at the Levittown Animal Hospital, a job she seemed to refer to in most any conversation. She adopted a donor cat named Marshmont at the hospital. Marilyn and Frank both were enamored with the beauty of the Berkshires and on vacation put a twenty dollar (that is all we had) binder on 8 acres in Becket, Mass. Itchy to get out of the hassle and bustle of Long Island, decided to build a home there. It didn’t take long for the beautiful area to beckon a move from Long Island. Shari had two puppies, Max and Shamus and a cat her dad rescued named Cato and Marshmont that we would bundle up and drive to Becket to help build the house on the weekends. It looked like a dog and cat clown car. Although the winter season was harsh, Marilyn got to love it, adopting the fox, hawks, deer and salamanders as if they were hers. We met Jane and Bob in the similar house building situation and remain close friends to this day. As time went on she found an abandoned black bear looking dog on the roadside (Penny) and brought it home. In 1978 her son was born and decided to come back to a less rural life style, settling in Old Lyme. Along came “Casey” an Irish setter she could not refuse to adopt. Then, Charlie and Contessa, Tess and Levi, all German Shepherds. Her son and daughter in law surprised her with a puppy “Mayce” 3 years ago, was love at first sight. Marilyn could not sit still. She met with Tim Griswold and volunteered to manage the food preparation for the annual RTC picnic fund raiser. This occupied her time for 14 seasons. She is now reunited with all her animals. Many thanks to the Gladeview healthcare staff for the compassionate attention afforded to Marilyn during her tenure there. Middlesex Hospice cannot be praised enough for the work that they do. She leaves her husband Frank, her son Eric and wife Michelle, daughter Tiana, her brother, Bob and wife Regina, nephew, Jeremey, wife, Samantha and their children, brother In-law, Tom, his children, Chris, Kevin and Brian, their wives and Children.

Calling Hours will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 4:00 until 6:00pm in Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Beckwith Ln., Old Lyme, CT. There will be a brief service following the calling hours at 6:00 in the funeral home.

Marilyn will be interned in the Duck River Cemetery, Old Lyme at a later date.