Marilyn Irene Harkin

A proud native New Yorker, Marilyn was born and raised in Brooklyn where she grew up in a multigenerational Tomaszewski and Jakubowski family owned apartment building.

She attended Our Lady of Czestochowa Grammar School and Bay Ridge High School. Brooklyn, NY is where she met and married her husband James of 59 years in an elaborate double wedding at Prospect Hall alongside her sister, Joan Pierz.

Marilyn and Jimmy had many family homes throughout NY, MA and NJ, finally settling down at the Jersey Shore in Forked River on their beloved waterfront.

Creating a large family, celebrating her Polish heritage and Catholic faith were all the pillars of Marilyn’s life pursuits.

She enjoyed tradition, being of service to others and paying attention to detail. Being a polio survivor, Marilyn relished in her never give up, just take it slow, life motto.

Marilyn found ways throughout her life to contribute and give back to the community and organizations that had meaning for her and represented her values. She volunteered her time over the years at many, including:

· Saint Mary’s Parish, Melrose, MA as the PTA President

· Saint Anastasia’s Parish, Teaneck, NJ as a Eucharistic Minister

· Saint Anastasia’s Parish, Teaneck, NJ as a Food Pantry Coordinator

· Saint Anastasia’s School, Teaneck, NJ as an Art Teacher

· Teaneck Nursing Home, Teaneck, NJ as a Eucharistic Minister

· Saint Joseph’s Orphanage, Brooklyn, NY as an Assistant Caregiver

· Catholic Guild for the Blind, Brooklyn, NY as a Volunteer

· Ocean County Mental Health Assoc, Toms River, NJ as Crafts Coordinator

· Odyssey Healthcare Hospice, Toms River, NJ as a Patient Volunteer

· City of New York 9/11 Family Assistance Center, NYC as a Volunteer

Over the years she enjoyed working as a Home Health Aide and caring for the elderly for 15 years in Bergen County, NJ. Marilyn, alongside Jimmy, enjoyed pitching in their time together over the course of 13 years at their daughter’s business, Hammett’s Landscaping & Garden Center. She was also a dedicated member and volunteer for the Al-Anon Organization for over 30 years.

Marilyn always led with kindness, enjoyed seeing the best in people and had a true generosity of spirit. There was always a seat at the family table and a bed to sleep in for anyone who may have needed it. She enjoyed the simple pleasures in life and took great pride in small gestures: line dried sheets, ironed handkerchiefs, specially wrapped gifts, surprise boxed lunches, slot machines, picking crabs, skee ball at Lucky Leo’s and a carefully set dinner table.

Mrs. Harkin is pre-deceased by her son, John T. Harkin in 2001, and her beloved husband of 59 years James F. Harkin in 2012. She is survived by her son Michael and his wife, Maria of Mahwah, NJ, her four daughters: Patricia MacDermott and her husband Glenn of Forked River, NJ, Margaret Blake and her husband David of Hackensack, NJ, Mary Hammett and her husband Kevin of Waretown, NJ, Kathryn Guastello and her husband Richard of Mendham, NJ, her brother John Thomas and sister Catherine Thomas of Brooklyn, NY, eighteen grandchildren: Melanie, Michael, Joshua, Shawna, Michelle, Mariel, Colleen, Ryan, Matthew, Nicholas, Kennedy, Mark, Caroline, Jaimie Lee, William, Alexa, McKale, Richard John, III “Trey,” and seven great grandchildren: Michael, James, Lucas, Dominic, Mila, Callon, and Isabella.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St., Toms River. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 10:00 am at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 300 Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Toms River, NJ.