Marilyn Jean Levin

Marilyn Jean Levin, age 73, of Wood Dale, Illinois passed away on Sunday, January 16, 2022. Marilyn was born January 8, 1949. Marilyn Jean Levin, 73. Beloved daughter of the late Myron and Anita; loving sister of Harold (Connie) Levin; dear friend of Beata Fus. The family would like to thank Marilyn's dedicated caregivers Ania and Margaret. She will be deeply missed.

Marilyn's life was entwined with art. Art of all kinds and in many ways. At dance class as a young child, at Grandma’s kitchen and crafts sewing and knitting, music lessons for piano and cello in school, singing and acting in high school, studying and making pottery and batik and other crafts in graduate school, and administering a recreational arts program in Pittsburgh and then on to NYC to head a film library and education organization. While studying, participating, and overseeing in many kinds of Art, Marilyn developed from a cute, cheerful, active, enthusiastic, talented child into a smart, independent, strong, warm hearted, funny, successful woman. She also flourished while dealing with the early years of MS, strong and brave until independent living was not realistic. But MS did not diminish her soul, cheerful, loving, funny, generous.

Marilyn was unique. She was bright, creative, talented, and a loyal friend, and no one else had that forever smile that filled her whole face. Marilyn won every role she wanted in Oak Park-River Forest High School’s 1963-67 theatre productions, took medals at multiple Illinois State Speech contests, and lit up the children’s theatre and pantomime group performances. With a friend, she co-wrote an extraordinary column for the weekly high school newspaper about Gerard, an anthropomorphized piece of dust who lived in one of the lockers, and she led the Oak Park Temple youth group with her signature outgoing and welcoming personality. She brought friendship and fun to those who knew her. May her memory be for a blessing.

A graveside service for Marilyn will be held Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Shalom Memorial Park, 1700 W Rand Rd., (enter off of Wilke), Arlington Heights, IL 60004.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Marilyn's memory may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/NYN.