Marilyn Grace Stewart Lazare

Marilyn Lazare of Essex passed away on June 4, 2024 after a short battle of cancer. Marilyn was a real lady. She exuded grace, elegance and style. She was born January 21, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Devirl and Grace (Nixon) Stewart. Marilyn received a bachelor's degree from University of Utah followed by living in Paris for four years and attending Paris National Conservatory. While living in Paris, Marilyn worked at the Pakistani Embassy and at Paramount Pictures as a translator. She loved Paris! Marilyn returned to Boston and joined the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music and received a masters degree from Harvard in French literature.

Marilyn married Jack Lazare, a Boston radio personality, and they made their home in Boston until 1985 when Jack purchased radio station in Meriden, Connecticut, moving their home to Essex. Marilyn taught French at Quinnipiac University for 27 years, and taught piano at the Essex Community Music School for 28 years. Marilyn was well-known as an organist for various church congregations in and around the Essex area.

In 2006, Marilyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jack. She is survived by her nephew Nick Stewart and his wife Diane of Orem, Utah and by her niece Grace Clayton of Sandy, Utah. She is also survived by her step-daughter, Lynn Lazare Finnell and her husband Hunter of Rancho Santa Fe, California and many nieces and nephews in Utah and California. All who knew and loved Marilyn are grateful to Tom Casey, a close neighbor and Marilyn's best friend, for his tender, brotherly care for Marilyn during and at the end of her life. At age 93, Marilyn Stewart Lazare died as she lived, with dignity and grace.

There will be a graveside service for Marilyn at Riverview Cemetery in Essex on Saturday, June 22nd at 11:00 AM. To share a memory of Marilyn or send a condolence to her family please visit www.rwwfh.com Arrangements are in the care of the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.