Marilyn Drea

Marilyn Conroy Drea, a beloved member of the Annapolis community, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at the age of 81. Marilyn is survived by her husband Arthur Drea, daughters Erin Olexia and Tracy McGowan, son-in-law, Chris Olexia, her five grandchildren, Avery and Huntley Olexia, Devin, Mallory and Nolan McGowan, and her sister Doris Allen and family, Doug, Stephanie, and Kristi Allen. Marilyn was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Joseph and Helen Conroy and grew up in Adelphi, Maryland. She attended high school at the Academy of Notre Dame in Washington, DC, and earned a bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology from Mount Saint Agnes College in Baltimore, Maryland. While in Baltimore, she was coerced by her college roommate to attend a dinner party where she met a handsome, "much older," and skinny man named Art. Within months of this meeting, the two were engaged and married shortly after. Marilyn and Art just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in January of this year. She was a devoted mother of two girls whom she raised with unconditional love and support. She taught her girls to never stop learning: about the world at large, through travel and community involvement, and through formal education, to achieve career and financial goals. She taught the great lesson of loving those less fortunate by serving as a foster mother for newborns prior to adoption, leading a youth church group to repair homes in impoverished areas of Appalachia, and in many other ways. Her love of travel inspired her throughout life. She has visited most of the United States and over 20 foreign countries. Her favorite locations included Monument Valley in Arizona, Turkey, Spain, and any beach anywhere, while lost in a book. Marilyn had several professions in her lifetime. Early on, she was a travel agent, an office manager, and even a door-to-door salesperson. However, her primary career was as a skilled graphic designer and small business owner in Annapolis for over 25 years. She worked her magic with countless brochures, books, and newsletters, and gained lasting friendships with her clients along the way. Some of her greatest joys came from her five grandchildren. She and Art created many memories with them while traveling to the Florida Keys and the Dominican Republic together, playing board games, celebrating all holidays, and attending as many of their sporting events as possible. Above all, Marilyn was known for her compassion and caring nature. She kept up with friendships from all aspects of her life and was loved by all. Her sense of humor, her intellect, and general welcoming presence will be greatly missed by all who knew her. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 15th at the Cape Saint Claire Clubhouse, 1225 River Bay Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21409. Please allow time for traffic delays. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to one of Marilyn's favorite charities: Chrysalis House, 1570 Crownsville Road, Crownsville, MD 21032. Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com