Marilyn Cashen

Marilyn Cashen was born in Brooklyn on March 31, 1950, to George and Alice Zentgraf. She graduated from St. Pascal Baylon High School in Queens and did clerical work at W. T. Grant, Life, Money and Sports Illustrated magazines and Bishop Molloy Retreat House. After a stint as a stay-at-home Mom, she returned to Bishop Molloy Retreat House on the housekeeping staff, eventually becoming its supervisor. Although she lived most of her life in Queens, she also lived in Florida from 2005 through 2012 where she gathered a whole new group of friends and helped her Mom during her father’s last days. For past two years she suffered the ravages of ALS, finally dying a peaceful death at The Hospice Inn in Melville on November 9.

Marilyn is survived by her mother Alice, her husband of 37 years, Tony, daughter Clare and son Brian, two grandchildren, Victor and Marcus, and her brother Michael. She loved her daughter-in-law Diana, son-in-law Ryan, and her sisters-in-law Betty Mae and Stephanie, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews in Florida,Virginia, Maryland and New York.

Marilyn was a humble but extraordinary woman. People were drawn to her because of her deep faith, her ability to listen and sympathize, her laughter and joy for life, and her wisdom. She was an excellent mother, as evidenced by her children with whom she formed deep bonds. Before her marriage she was active in the Cursillo Movement, and was one of the founders of the Peter and Paul Charismatic Prayer Group in 1974, which is still going strong today. Later she was active in the Church as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister and Greeter. For many years she has been part of a small life/faith-sharing group, Shalom She was a woman of her convictions and lived her faith to the fullest. One would be blessed to have her as a friend.

Here are several testimonies to her character and personality. The first is from a classmate of Brian’s: “She is a beautiful person who understands the uniqueness and importance of life and showed that in her personality and the way she lived.” From one of her Florida friends: “Never was there a woman with so much energy, enthusiasm for life than Marilyn Cashen…she would energize any room with her personality.” And from another Florida friend: “She was an amazing friend and an inspiration to us all.”

She will be sorely missed.

Arrangements under the direction of R. Stutzmann & Son, Queens Village, NY.