Marilyn Eleanor Gordon, 87 of Sparta, passed away peacefully on Sunday December 16, 2018 at 5AM at Newton Medical Center, Newton, NJ following a one month battle with complications from a double lung collapse.
Born August 4, 1931 to the late Hazel Emma and Kenneth William Gordon, she lived her early childhood years on Minisink Rd. in the Lake Hopatcong section of Jefferson TWP., NJ with her elementary schooling in Hurdtown, NJ after that.
In the early 1940’s she and her parents moved to Sparta where, after her sister Sharon’s birth in 1945, they eventually (1947) resided in their family home, personally constructed by their father where she and Sharon continued to live. Here Marilyn completed grade school and high school out of Sparta Mohawk Ave. School and Newton High School respectively.
Marilyn originally belonged to the Lake Hopatcong Methodist Church, then to this day has been a devoted member of the Sparta United Methodist Church. She was also a longtime member of the AARP.
Marilyn’s life-long career was as a registered nurse graduating from Somerset Hospital School of Nursing in 1951 in Somerville, NJ. She then worked at Johns’ Hopkins in Baltimore, MD and Greystone State Park facility in Morris County, NJ. After serving as a supervisor at Somerset Hospital for several years, she then worked as the efficient and compassionate nurse that she was for Schmidt-Fletcher Medical Associates, PA, 67 High St., Newton, NJ for 37 years retiring in 1992. Following retirement, Marilyn volunteered as a playground aide at Sparta Alpine School, Sparta, NJ.
She and Sharon toured throughout the world in the late 1960’s through the 1980’s, particularly loving the British and Greek Isles, and Niagara Falls. Visiting craft fairs, miniature shows, and jewelry and mineral shows were also a favorite. Her main desire now was to walk well again after hip repairs in 2016 and 2018.
Though small in stature, she was big in all the things that count: strength of spirit, love and family and home, kindness, gentleness, courage, and determination. The loves of her life were her sister Sharon, their dogs Percy, Dolly, Philomena, Phinaeus, and Sebastian, their cat Tansie and their turtles Big Red and Mr. T.
Marilyn is survived by her loving and devoted sister Sharon and several cousins: Linda McGarity of Marietta, GA, James Raymond of Lawrenceville, GA, Doris Groves of Cape May, NJ, Laura Pisauro of Bethlehem, PA, Barbara Kimball of Chesterfield, NJ, Mary Weimer of Claremont, FL, Esther Pascoe, Edna Remshifsky, and Lorraine Stickle of Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Theresa Davenport of Wharton, NJ, Marie Wetzel of Maine, and William “Bill” Gordon of Succasunna, NJ.
A special THANK YOU must be said to Dr. Daya Nadarajah, Dr. Ronald Harris, and the superb staff of the ICU at Newton Medical Center for the caring concern, expertise and loving kindness during Marilyn’s ordeal, and to Alison Miller, Cindy Strunck, and Susan Reilly who provided home health aide to Marilyn prior to her recent illness, and to Rev. Janice Sutton Lynn, Rev. Randy Parks and Bill Gordon for their unselfish support.
Visitation will be held on Friday December 21, 2018 from 5 – 7 PM at Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main St., Sparta, NJ 07871. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10:30AM at Sparta United Methodist Church, Sparta, NJ with Rev. Janice Sutton Lynn officiating. Interment will follow at the family plot at Sparta Cemetery.
Memorial donations in Marilyn’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Center, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to an animal humane organization of your choice.
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