Marilyn Gasbarra

MARILYN J. GASBARRA, 83 ROCKFORD - Marilyn J. Gasbarra, 83, of Rockford passed away peacefully Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, at P.A. Peterson Center for Health. Marilyn was born May 29, 1926, in Rockford, the daughter of Willys 'Roy' and Esther (Glans) Abraham. As a vibrant young woman, Marilyn worked at Woolworth's on Broadway while in high school and was a stenographer at Barnes Drill Co. during her senior year. A Rockford East High graduate in the Class of 1944, she served on many class reunion committees since 1959 and was active as her class historian. In her later years, Marilyn took classes at Rock Valley College. After high school, Marilyn was the only employee of Elmer L. Mertz, M.D., for more than 12 years, learning much about the medical profession. It was in this office building that she met and fell in love with Lincoln A. Gasbarra, and they married Nov. 5, 1948, in Rockford; Linc passed away Sept. 21, 1994. A loving mother of four boys, Marilyn was an active room mother and editor of the newsletter at Highland and Maude Johnson schools and spent eight years as a Cub Scout Den Mother. While her sons were young, Marilyn volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, bell ringer, circle member leader, and served on committees at church. She did not know it at the time, but these activities would lead to future career staff positions at her beloved Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Marilyn spent more than 40 years of her life on Church Staff/Council of Emmanuel. Marilyn served as youth coordinator from 1968 to 1973 and coordinated the LOVIN' SOUND Folk Choir of 60 youths who traveled and sang in four states and performed at many Christian camps in South Dakota. She served as a volunteer coordinator and was adviser to several council committees from 1979 to 1996. Wanting to deepen her capacity in faith, she received her Clinical Pastoral Education at Rockford Memorial Hospital. In 1981, she volunteered as a chaplain and was later recognized as a lay minister and installed as an Associate in Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Marilyn was also a member of the Ministry Team, assisted with Stephen Ministers and Ministers of Communion, and was a member of Congregational Life and the Prayer Chain at Emmanuel. In another volunteer capacity, in the mid-'80s through 2002, Marilyn served on a Task Force for the Council of Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries and the Seventh Street Area Development Council, centralizing many of her volunteer efforts in the Rockford Midtown District, where she lived for many years. Marilyn retired from Emmanuel Lutheran Church staff in 1996 and began working evenings and weekends at church-related retirement communities, Wesley Willows and Willows on Main, retiring in 2001. She remained active in Emmanuel Church Council until her passing. Marilyn will be greatly missed by her sons, Karl (Kimberly), Mark (Frances), Shane and Mitchell Gasbarra; grandchildren, Joseph, Jason (Christine) Gasbarra, Jennifer (Erron) Nielsen, Allison (Paul) Lavigne, Jordan, Benjamin, Joshua and William Gasbarra; stepgrandchildren, Ryan and Damon Pennington; great-grandchildren, Ava, Hudson, Elsa and Jagger Nielson, Olyvia and Lola Gasbarra; special sister-in-law, Ruth Gasbarra; nephews, Kurt and Trent Gasbarra; cousins, Joyce Hubbell and Joan Harrison. Service at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, in Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 902 Third Ave., with visitation from 12 to 12:45 p.m.; the Rev. Sandi Olson Decker will officiate. Those in attendance at the service are warmly welcomed to refreshments in the Fellowship Hall afterward. Private interment at Scandinavian Cemetery. As shown through the actions in her life, Marilyn truly wanted to do what she could to help the area of Rockford she lived and worked in for so many years. As such, she has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be sent to Zion Development Corp. and allocated to Katie's Cup, P.O. Box 4387, Rockford, IL 61110; 815-964-8280. Arrangements by Olson Funeral and Cremation Services Ltd, 1001 Second Ave. To send a condolence, please visit olsonfh.com.