Marilyn Elizabeth Cronin

Marliyn Elizabeth(Welch) Cronin  

Dec. 29, 1925 – July 10, 2018

Passed away peacefully at High Pointe House in Haverhill, MA in the presence of family. She was in her 93rd year when her body betrayed her will to live. Born in East Providence, Rhode Island, to Mildred F (Doughty). Welch and Carlton E. Welch. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles A. Cronin, Jr. and her daughter-in-law, Jane Orr Cronin.

She is survived by her six loving children; Claudia Cronin-Schlote (Phil) of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Charles III (Charlotte) of Foxboro, Mass., Carlton (Patti) of Haverhill, Courtney (Sandra) of Plaistow, N.H., Christopher (Cynthia) of Merrimack, N.H. and Carilyn Cronin Donovan (Bill) of Andover. She is also survived by her older sister, June T. Bryant (Alfred) of San Antonio, Texas. She will be missed by her cherished grandchildren; C J (Kelly), Nathan (Lisa), Jonathan (Nicole), Meredith (Matt), Alissa, Charles, Heather, Alexander, Connor, Zachary, Molly, Benjamin, Brenna and Julliane and her 3 great- grandchildren; Nicholas, Kenna and Elora.

 Marilyn grew up in Riverside, R.I. She was very active in sports - golf, tennis and especially swimming. She graduated from East Providence H.S. in 1943 and earned her B.A. in Education from the Rhode Island College of Education in 1947. She also attended the University of Wisconsin for Physical Education. After working as an Elementary School teacher for a few years, she met and married Charles Cronin, Jr. in 1952. Moving to Andover, Mass., she taught at various elementary schools for the Town of Andover for over 25 years. During this time she also volunteered for many years at the Lawrence YM & YWCA while her children were members of the swim teams there.

Throughout her life she was a devoted teacher, swimming coach, wife, mother,grandmother and great-grandmother. She played piano and brought music into her classrooms and home. She also loved gardening and the outdoors – always noticing the wonders of nature.

Once retired, she played golf with much skill. She was a member of South Church in Andover and while wintering in Florida, she volunteered at the Christian School, was a member of Cheeca Lodge and Resort and helped make stained glass windows for the Matecombe Methodist Church in the Florida Keys. She was an avid historian and loved researching her ancestry. She was a Daughter of the American Revolution and ​Mayflower Descendant. Marilyn felt very patriotic to her homeland and very proud of her American Heritage.

Marilyn and Chuck also spent summers at their cabin in Lucerne, Maine where they enjoyed many awesome times with their family. They spent the shoulder seasons in Andover with their daughter, Carilyn’s family and were cared for by them in their later years.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Andover/North Andover YMCA, 165 Haverhill Street Andover, MA 01810

Attn: Marilyn Cronin Memorial Fund, to support the expansion of aquatics programs at the YMCA.

A Memorial Service will be held at South Church, Central Street, Andover, MA at 11am on Friday, July 20, 2018. Reception at the Church in Fellowship Hall to follow. Arrangements are by the Dewhirst & Boles Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen.  To leave an online condolence, please go to Marilyn’s tribute page at www.dewhirstfuneral.com.

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