Marilyn Ward Coll died of natural causes on August 27, 2022, at Williamstown Commons Nursing Home. She was born January 24, 1933, in Irvington, NJ. A child of Catherine Rowley and Thomas Ward, both Irish immigrants, Marilyn grew up in Bloomfield, NJ, and earned a scholarship to Barnard College. After graduating in 1954, she married John Marshall and had three children. In 1959 she became a widow and subsequently met and married Francis Coll. Together they moved to Williamstown, right down the street from Mr. Coll’s employer, then brand-new Mt. Greylock High School. They became enamored of the beautiful Berkshires, and never left.
Like many women of her generation, Marilyn was primarily a homemaker and mother, raising four children on Scott Hill Road. She nonetheless had a sideline of insatiable curiosity, delving into everything from cooking like Julia Child to studying theology to writing poetry for the National Catholic Reporter. Her home became a laboratory that produced hand-made candles, root beer, Halloween costumes, back-to-school outfits, mittens, donuts and a spectacular selection of breads and pies. She eventually zeroed in on textile arts, learning to sew, knit, hook rugs, weave, spin, needle-point, cross-stitch, and, her finest skill, embroider. For many years she ran an embroidery studio entitled “The Crewel Spinster” where she taught classes in various textile arts. She was a teacher throughout life, starting as a first-grade teacher in New Jersey, continuing as a middle grade English teacher at Peekskill Military Academey, a religious education and substitute teacher in Williamstown, and even teaching embroidery to students at Williams and North Adams State colleges. Later in life she turned to writing, and wrote several children’s books. She loved music and sang in high school for the New Jersey All State chorus. She was an opera lover and rarely missed a Saturday afternoon Metropolitan Opera broadcast on WAMC. She was a devoted Catholic, yet was never afraid to debate policies that she believed were counter to the true purpose of her beloved Church. She was a communicant at Sts. Patrick and Raphael Parish for many decades, and volunteered in several capacities, including guild member, CCD teacher, lector, eucharistic minister, and long-time member of the choir. Throughout her life she was an avid reader and provided a steady supply of clipped newspaper articles to prod her progeny into pursuing an enlightened life. Her later years were devoted to creating even more baked goods, knitted socks and poems for her six adored grandchildren. Her infectious good cheer lasted to the very end.
She is predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Francis Coll, as well as by her first husband. She is survived by four children, Kathleen Marshall (Haryl Pascal) of San Jose, CA, Thomas Marshall of Williamstown, Mary-Delia Marshall (Thomas Wallace) of New York City, Kevin Coll (Doreen LaSala Coll) of Oradell, NJ; six grandchildren, Nora Wallace, Oona Wallace, Neve Wallace, Sean Coll, Daria Coll, Chloe Coll; a cherished sister, Irene Ward Brydon, of Berkeley, CA; three Brydon nephews and their families, and an extended Irish-American clan. Eternal thanks go to the compassionate staff at Hospice and Williamstown Commons, who, throughout the Covid pandemic, worked tirelessly to make Marilyn comfortable and content. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to HospiceCare in the Berkshires, Inc. A funeral mass will be held at Sts. Patrick and Raphael Church in Williamstown at 10am on September 24. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.
Published by The Berkshire Eagle on Aug. 30, 2022.
