Obituary of Marylyn Anna deGonzague

Marylyn deGonzague

LATHAM - It is with broken hearts that we announce Marylyn's passing on March 1, 2024 after a brief battle with cancer, at home with family by her side.

At the early age of 5, Marylyn set her sights on becoming a nurse to take care of babies. The passion for a career in Nursing drove her to volunteer at the Little Sisters of the Poor Nursing Home in Albany while in high school at Vincentian Institute. She pursued her education at St. Mary's School of Nursing, followed by postgraduate degrees at Russell Sage College and Saint Louis University. She has shared her passion for Nursing throughout her lifelong career in a number of positions, including Instructor and Director of St. Mary's School of Nursing, Assistant Professor, Oncology Staff Nurse, Patient Education Coordinator, Education Specialist, and Certified Diabetes Nurse Educator with the Visiting Nurses Association. Marylyn worked with the NYS Department of Health as Hospital Nursing Services Consultant as an accreditor for Long Term Care Homes to ensure compliance to standards for the delivery of care for Nursing Home residents across New York State until her retirement in 2011.

Marylyn dedicated her life in service to God, with a strong faith that led her to join the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet from 1964 to 1990. She later continued her dedication and service to God and the Faith Community as an Associate of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, ministering to others and bringing forward the Word of Jesus Christ. Marylyn has touched the lives of countless people through the years, caring for individuals and families in heart, mind, body and spirit.

When not at work Marylyn enjoyed travelling, and had the joy of touring regions including Israel, Italy, Ireland and Central America, some with her dear friend Arleen. She had a deep appreciation for theatre and music, attending numerous plays and performances; she especially enjoyed the Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC with her favorite nephew Ben. Her creativity and talent in art and music was evident in her crafts, making beautifully created greeting cards, crocheting and knitting, and playing piano as a child and the organ in later life. Marylyn loved animals and enjoyed the company of her two beloved cats Max and Minou. Above all, Marylyn loved her family and time spent at get-togethers and many shared family meals, and weekend breakfasts out with friends. Her kindness and generosity will be missed by the many lives that she touched along the way.

Marylyn was the oldest of four siblings, and will be loved and missed forever by her brother Louis and wife Jill deGonzague, sister Bernadette deGonzague and longtime companion Gerald Smith, and her nephew Benjamin and wife Kay deGonzague. She is preceded in death by her parents, Augustin and Rita (Decker) deGonzague, and brother Thomas deGonzague.

Services will be held on March 6, 2024 at Our Lady of Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, with visitation in the Chapel from 9 – 11 a.m. followed by a funeral mass, and interment immediately after at the Calvary Cemetery, Glenmont.

Our family would like to extend special gratitude to all the staff of the Community Hospice of Albany, for their kindness, caring, and respect in providing support to Marylyn and to all of us through this difficult time. We would like to express a special thank you to Eileen, Marylyn's Case Manager, Sr. MaryKay CSJ, her Chaplain, and Cory, her Aide.

In lieu of flowers, Marylyn requests donations to: Things of My Very Own (https://thingsofmyveryown.org/donate/ ), The Community Hospice of Albany (https://www.givetocommunityhospice.org/donate/.org ) , or the Dominican Retreat and Conference Centre (https://www.dslcny.org/).