Marilyn Ann (Hugel) Johnston

Obituary for Marilyn Ann Johnston (nee Hugel)

Peacefully at home, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, Marilyn Ann Johnston went home to Heaven. Marilyn battled dementia for ten years and mobility challenges the past several years. Church was a huge part of her life as she was a lifelong member of Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Lawrenceville. In her youth, she was the secretary for the Walther League where she met lifelong friends and her husband of sixty years, Fred Johnston. She served the congregation at Zion as Sunday School Superintendent, financial secretary, and a Ladies Guild member for many years. Marilyn was an organist at St. Matthew Lutheran Church on the North Side for about twenty years. Up until as recently as August, she would attend worship services at Zion often humming along with the hymns and sometimes reciting The Lord’s Prayer.

In her younger days, Marilyn worked for Sears and then prepared income taxes for Gruber Agency for over thirty years. She was on several church bowling leagues and was quite good at volleyball during Walther League get togethers. Marilyn enjoyed sewing and made Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls in the 1970s and early 1980s. She also made clothes for her daughters and Halloween costumes for Elizabeth, James, and Rebekah. Marilyn was known for her Texas Sheet Cake and Pumpkin Rolls which she would take orders for and sell at Christmas time.

Her grandchildren will remember her telling them to, “Watch the dishes!” any time she heard dishes clinking together. She loved going to Kennywood and riding the Whip and the Merry Go Round. She enjoyed hosting picnics in the driveway and was keen to get grandkid pictures taken at Sears or JC Penney’s when she had a coupon.

Marilyn’s family will miss her but they know that this is not the end. Marilyn now resides in Heaven and her family will see her again one day when they too reach their eternal glory. Marilyn is survived by her husband, Fred, daughter Elizabeth and her husband John Trembulak, son James and his wife Beth, daughter Rebekah and her husband Jude Wudarczyk, grandchildren Cara Trembulak, Jenny and her husband Devin Rowe, Laura Trembulak, Hannah Trembulak, Ben Johnston and Daniel Johnston. Lilly Rowe is her first great grandchild and a month ago, Marilyn proclaimed she was a very nice baby. Friends will be received on Monday from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at the Bock Funeral Home, Ltd., 1500 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw. A Funeral Service will held on Tuesday at 10 AM in Zion Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville. EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. Memorial luncheon to follow at church after the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may sent to Lutheran Public Radio, Good Samaritan, or Zion Lutheran Church.