Obituary of Marilyn A. Cavanaugh

MARILYN A. CAVANAUGH Watervliet-Marilyn A. Cavanaugh, 87 of Watervliet, beloved wife of the late Albany County Coroner James F. Cavanaugh Jr., was reunited with her husband on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Albany Medical Center with her children at her side. Born November 2, 1933, at 1915 8th Avenue Watervliet, in the house that her future husband Jim grew up in, she was the daughter of the late George H. and the late Eulalia (Russ) Nash. She was a graduate of Catholic Central High School class of 1951. She married the love of her life, James F. Cavanaugh Jr., on November 29, 1952 and the two shared a beautiful marriage of over 34 years prior to his passing on August 18, 1987. Marilyn started her career with the New York Telephone Company in Troy as a long-distance operator. She was later employed in Schenectady at New York Telephone, and then in Menands in the directory department. Marilyn retired from NYNEX, in East Greenbush, on December 7, 1991, as a special information analyst clerk. She was a longtime member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. Never one to sit idly by, she enjoyed playing bridge with the Watervliet Bridge group and delighted in the Red Hat Society. Marilyn loved family vacations to Cape Cod's West Dennis Beach, numerous winters in Destin, Florida with dear friends and summer concert series in the park in Green Island and the Crossings in Colonie. In her later years, she had a passion for crocheting blankets for family and friends, to demonstrate her love. Marilyn was the happiest when surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include her seven loving children Karen A. McCabe, James F. (Carol) Cavanaugh III, Susan A. (Ned Alaskey) McCabe, Kevin F. (Darlene Clark) Cavanaugh, Timothy J. (Marge) Cavanaugh, Carlene A. (Elio) Micheli and Christopher T. (Pat Rowan) Cavanaugh; her siblings, George (Gabby) Nash, James (Ann) Nash and Joyce (John) Winn. She is the loving grandmother of Chris, Jamie, Heather, Meghan, Colleen, Mark, Ryan, Kailyn, Evan, Jenna, Chelsea, Timothy, Carolann, Kristy, Morgan, and Jill. She is also survived 21 treasured great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, brother in-laws and sister-in-law's, and her dear friend, Lou Clark. In addition to her husband and parents, Marilyn was predeceased by her cherished grandson Collin Cavanaugh McCabe. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated privately for immediate family only at Our Lady of the Assumption Church 498 Watervliet-Shaker Rd. Latham with Rev. Geoffrey Burke officiating. Marilyn's Mass of Christian Burial will be livestream on Saturday January 16, 2021 starting at 9:50 a.m. go to https://olalatham.org and click on livestream. Relatives and friends are invited to attend committal services on Saturday January 16, 2021 at 11:15 a.m. in St. Patrick's Cemetery where Marilyn will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Jim. While at the cemetery social distancing and masks will be required. For those wishing to remember Marilyn in a special way, the family is requesting that donations in her memory be made to the Elizabeth Nash Foundation PO Box 590883, San Francisco, CA 94159 or www.elizabethnashfoundation.org/donate or the American Cancer Society 1 Penny Lane Latham, NY 12110. The family is kindly requesting no flowers. For directions, information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.