Of Tewksbury, MA, passed away on December 11, 2024 in the house that she and her late husband, Vito, built. She was born in Boston, MA, to Anastasia (Stella) Koskevitch and Beverly Thoits on June 2, 1930. She attributed her longevity to not smoking or drinking.
She lived in Billerica with her grandmother when she was young, and later, as an early teenager, in Boston with her mother close to Symphony Hall, where she would listen to the musicians practice from outside. She graduated from Everett High School.
She is survived by her children, Steve and his wife, Jeanne Hagelstein-Ivas, of Norwell MA, Stan and his wife, Karen of Mansfield, MA, and Patricia Wolf and her husband, Tom of Tewksbury MA; her grandchildren, Alexa White and her husband David of Hill, NH, Nick Ivas of Fremont, CA, Justin Ivas of Norwell MA, Jessica Ivas and her partner Patrick Conley of Quincy, MA, Major Jeff Ivas and his wife Erin of Colorado Springs, CO, Kristina Ivas of Somerville MA, and Dan Ivas of Denver, CO; great-grandchildren Caleb White and Camden White of Hill, NH, Amelia Ivas and Jack Ivas of Colorado Springs, CO, and Cora Conley of Quincy MA; and her niece Corinne Ivas & her partner Eric White of St. Petersburg, FL. She was pre-deceased by her sister and her husband, Joanne and Alexander Ivas and grandson, Jonathan Wolf. She is also survived by many cousins.
She was a woman of the greatest generation and was multi-talented: anything she tried, she could do well, including raising plants (both flowers and vegetables; cooking (stuffed cabbage particularly) and baking (apple pies, brownies, hermits, cherry-nut cakes, and jelly rolls); putting vegetables up for the winter (canning) to name a few areas. She also assisted her husband re-finishing antique furniture and decorative arts, quilting, rug braiding and drapery making. As a homemaker, she was very involved with her childrens’ school activities, and was the featured quilter for her Quilting Guild on her 94th birthday this past summer! Her eyes were special: she could find the few four-leaf clovers in a field, and greatly enjoyed jigsaw puzzles.
She started her second career at the age of 50 and retired from the Graphic Services Department of Compugraphic/AGFA Corporation, after having passed a typing test at over 140 words a minute many years before. She could type faster than many people could speak and was a detailed editor of publications.
Marilyn was an exquisite skater - it was a great show just to watch her on Figure skates in the back field, on the floodplain of the Shawsheen River.
She brought up three relatively unruly children, making sure that they were fed, clean and warm, for which we all thank her.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jonathan Wolf Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O The Rivier University. 425 South Main Street, Nashua NH, 03060-5086.
Calling hours are Sunday, December 15, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 16, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Tewksbury Cemetery, 172 East Street, Tewksbury