Obituary of Marilyn O’Brien
Marilyn E. O’Brien, affectionately known as Nanny, passed away peacefully and reunited with the love of her life on Friday, July 23, 2021 at Attleboro Village, in Langhorne, PA. She was 94.
A resident of Bucks County for 66 years, she also enjoyed many summers in Harvey Cedars, NJ and winters in Deerfield Beach, FL.
Marilyn was born on May 21, 1927, to Bessie and Emil Fackler and grew up in Maplewood, NJ. She was a graduate of Columbia High School and attended Roanoke College. After college she was living on her family farm in Spring Lake, NJ where she met her beloved husband Richard “Richie” O’Brien. They were married on September 15, 1951 and had just shy of 59 wonderful years together before Richie passed away in 2010.
Her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her greatest joy in life. She doted on her family and was happiest when her gang was all together. If there was an award for “being there” in the lives of her family, Nanny would win the gold every time. She juggled the schedules of 7 grandchildren and never missed a single talent show, Christmas concert, Halloween parade, science fair or graduation. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved nothing more than to create the most beautiful dresses for her daughters and adorable halloween costumes for her grandchildren. Over the years, Marilyn volunteered her time to their church and the children’s schools. She was also very involved at Attleboro, serving on several different resident committees.
She forged many lifelong friends and memories spending summers with Richie and their children living on a boat in Toms River, NJ. They later bought a beach house in Harvey Cedars, NJ where she happily hosted the entire family all summer long. From crab races and bike parades to fireworks on the beach, crabbing off the dock, clams casino cookouts and adventures on Pop’s boat the “Moby Dick”, our “Dune Grass Granny” made it the summer of a lifetime, each and every year.
Marilyn will be deeply missed by her family. She was the loving mother of Mary Ellen (Claude) Abouchedid of Princeton, NJ; Maureen (Greg) Church of Newtown, PA; Thomas (Beverly) O’Brien of Langhorne, PA. Cherished grandmother of Sean (Olivia), Brad and James Abouchedid, Michael (Lindsay) and Morgan Church, Jennifer (Adam) Minetola and Daniel O’Brien. Adoring Great-Grandmother to Wesley Abouchedid; Henry, William and Caroline Church and Tommy and Benjamin Minetola. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Doris, nieces and nephew and her “adopted” granddaughter Lauren Russo.
In addition to all the staff at Attleboro, Marilyn’s family would like to express their sincere thanks and eternal gratitude to Janette Balaba, Sherry Freeman and Salamatu Hawa Dixon for the tremendous care and compassion they gave Marilyn over the years.
A private funeral will be held on August 14, 2021 from 1-3pm at FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home in Yardley, PA. Condolences are welcome at FitzGeraldSommerFuneralHome.com
Contributions in her memory may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate).
