Marilyn Ann Castagnello was born in Yonkers, New York in 1936, where she was raised by her Italian father and Irish mother.  As a child, she was known to be a good student and a fast runner, perhaps inspired by the boy in the upstairs apartment who used to chase her while brandishing his pet snapping turtles, FlatTop and Chubby.  
World War II was the backdrop of Marilyn’s childhood, and she did her part for the effort by becoming the self-designated President of the Spy Club, an annoying group of children who peered through neighborhood windows looking for evidence of local Nazis.  Marilyn never lost this nascent political activism; she would eventually be involved in more than one campaign and was the “go to” person for any questions about foreign governments.
Marilyn was generally open to trying anything new; as a young person, she auditioned for a professional musical even though she could never carry a tune, and she participated in a local swim race even though she could only “dog paddle”.  She always got big points for being a good sport.
Right after graduating from Rutgers, Marilyn taught junior high in the Bronx.  In fact, this typifies Marilyn; she just persevered without much attention to the reality of the challenge.  Her father’s nickname for her was “cookie”, and she brought the toughness.  Before physical conditions slowed her down, she was an avid hiker and gardener, battling woodchucks with frightening intensity at her former home in Buckland.  
As with most interesting people, Marilyn never stopped learning; she studied watercoloring, Italian, and received training to be a docent.  Meeting her young friend Audrey Clark through the Big Sisters program enhanced her life greatly, giving her another chance to be with children. 
 Without question, reading was her greatest passion.  When she was a teenager, she would read stealthily all night long, hiding her flashlight and book under the blankets.  She never went anywhere without something to read and always advised carrying a handbag large enough for a book (and a light cardigan and pepper spray).  
In the ‘80s, Marilyn went back to school to become a psychiatric nurse.  She excelled in her dealings with patients, where her warmth and lack of judgment were gratefully received.  On days off, she dragged her children to every kid-friendly place in New England, including annual visits to Cape Cod, where her incremental entry into the water was known as “reverse evolution”.  
Marilyn taught all her children to the importance of kindness, as well as how to scream “litterbug!” out the car window when witnessing improper trash disposal.  We also learned how to sneak popcorn into the Garden theater, do Esther Williams impressions, and make the world’s best marinara.  Marilyn believed that people were put on the earth to help one another- a value she put to action every day.  She lived and breathed the New York Times; if Wirecutter had recommended a casket, she’d be in it right now.
From youth until her passing, Marilyn maintained friendships with numerous, wonderful people, which sustained her.  Many of her closest friends could be found at the Unitarian Universalist churches in Greenfield and Bernardston, as well as her beloved book group. Marilyn served on the board of NELCWIT, was a member of the Greenfield Drama Club, and was a former religious education teacher.
 We are comforted in knowing that Marilyn is now in the excellent company of her elder daughter, Holly, in a wonderful place where you never have to put the book down.  We will miss her forever.
Services will be private and held at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home.  For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.