Marilyn Laura DeBona

Marilyn Laura DeBona died peacefully at her home in Greensboro, North Carolina on June 12, 2016. She was surrounded by her devoted husband Joe and her beloved daughters, grandchildren and great granddaughter.

Marilyn was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, the daughter of Thomas and Marion Ronaldi. She loved the city and her after school job as a hat check girl at Sardi’s Restaurant on 44th Street. She met her first husband, John DeBona on Orchard Beach in the Bronx in the summer of 1951. They married three years later at the Beekman Palace in Manhattan. They settled in Babylon, New York where they raised four daughters. John worked as a teacher at Babylon High School and though Marilyn worked for many years, her real vocation was her family. She was fiercely devoted to her girls and grandchildren. She loved family gatherings, crossword puzzles, playing Scrabble, gardening and reading. She was a fabulous cook and invitations to her renowned dinner parties were always eagerly accepted. She brought people together by the sheer force of her generous spirit. Just before John died in 1991, some uncanny, yet perfectly timed communication brought his childhood best friend, Joe Contrastano, back into his and Marilyn’s lives. Joe’s neighborhood humor brought laughter into Marilyn’s world during those difficult years and they married in 1996. In the weeks before her passing, she and Joe were still making reservations at her favorite local steakhouse.

She is survived by her husband Joe, her children and their spouses, Debbie and Rick Wodhanil, Lorraine and Steve Marshall, Elyse and David Descalzi, and Jill and Mark Zenker, and by her grandchildren Stephanie, John Thomas and Ashley, Caty, Lizzie, John Adam, Leia, Francesca and Emilia, great granddaughter Lily, as well as by her brother Thomas Ronaldi Jr., brother in law Alan Nixen and many nieces and nephews. Her strong and loving presence will be greatly missed by her family and friends .

Marilyn’s life will be celebrated at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home, 515 North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC, on Tuesday, June 14th, from 6 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in her name to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave, Greensboro, NC, 27405.

Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com