Marilyn Anne DeMarais

Marilyn Anne (Jacobs) DeMarais, of New Brighton, MN peacefully went to the Lord at the age of 84 on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at St. Therese hospice at St. Odilia's, after a five-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis/interstitial lung disease. Marilyn was born on December 20, 1937 and grew up in North Minneapolis, MN with her parents Mathew and Florence Jacobs and her five siblings (Ron, Bruce, Jim, Sue, and Rita). She attended St. Anne's and St. Austin's parish, and graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1955 where she developed many lifelong friendships. After graduating from High School, she met the love of her life, Gordon C. DeMarais, and they were married on June 1, 1957, at St. Austin's Catholic Church. Gordy and Marilyn live in New Hope, MN and were members of Saint Raphael's parish until the birth of four boys in five years necessitated a bigger house. They settled in Columbia Heights where three daughters were born. Gordy and Marilyn were active members of Immaculate Conception Catholic parish. In 1973, Marilyn lost her husband Gordy to cancer and devoted the rest of her 49 years to serving and loving her family. In 1974 Marilyn began working full-time at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, MN, where she worked as an Academic Assistant until her retirement in 2001. Her time at Totino-Grace were blessed years where she embraced the LaSallian mission and formed friendships that were so important to her. During this time she also went back to college, graduating from the College of St. Catherine with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Oral and Writing Communication in 1988, and achieving her Masters of Arts degree in Computer Technology in the Classroom from the University of St. Thomas in 1994. Marilyn moved to New Brighton in 2007 to live with her daughter and her family and became an active member in St. John the Baptist parish, and St. Odilia parish in Shoreview. She volunteered her time in service to others, was a lifelong learner and passionate about social justice, and spent many happy years volunteering with CommonBond Communities, Families Moving Forward, Befriender Ministry, singing in the church choir, going on mission trips, leading confirmation retreats, and sharing her faith and love with so many. Marilyn is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gordon Clement DeMarais, Sr., parents Matthew and Florence Jacobs, siblings Ronald Jacobs and Susan (Jacobs) Fitzer, grandchildren Melissa DeMarais and Nathan DeMarais, and great-grandchild Patrick DeMarais. Marilyn is survived by her siblings Bruce Jacobs, Jim (Louise) Jacobs, and Rita (Pat) Schleeter, her children Gordy Jr (Teresa), Tom (Annmarie), Paul (Jean), Steve, Mari (Mike) Fellrath, Maggie (Todd) Arnevik, Lisa (Paul) Kline, 26 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren. Marilyn will be remembered as a kind and generous woman who made many sacrifices to care for the people in her life. Her deep faith in Jesus was the anchor of her life and her happy place was spending time with family and friends, scrapbooking, knitting/crocheting, and serving others. Visitation Sunday June 19th from 3:00-6:00 pm at Holcomb-Henry-Boom-Purcell Funeral Home, 515 Hwy 96, Shoreview, MN. 55126. Prayer service at 5:15 pm. Mass of Christian Burial Monday June 20th at 11 am (visitation 10-11am) at the Church of St. Odilia, 3495 Victoria St., Shoreview, MN. A luncheon will immediately follow the mass. Memorials to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, or the Crohns & Colitis Foundation.

Tributes

Marilyn Anne DeMarais

December 20, 1937 - June 15, 2022

Tributes

Marilyn Anne DeMarais

December 20, 1937 - June 15, 2022

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