Marilyn Kay Wooden

Marilyn K. Wooden, a truly devoted wife and totally loving mother, died in Sandpoint Feb. 1 surrounded by love, tenderness and prayers. A vigil and recitation of the rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 601 S. Lincoln Ave, in Sandpoint and the funeral Mass will be celebrated Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s with Father Dennis Day presiding. While metastatic breast cancer ultimately took her life at the age of 73, she insisted her 25-year battle with the disease not be highlighted as if it were her most important accomplishment. She felt blessed by, rather than proud of, her love for her husband Robert, their six children, 11 grandchildren and her seven (almost eight) great-grandchildren. She loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter, and truly believed that loving her family was the vocation God gave her. Her faith kept her strong through all the struggles of life, but even more, her faith made her grateful each day for the blessings of family and good friends, for the beauty of creation, for music, smiles, birds and puppies. She enjoyed playing golf, bridge and fishing with Robert, going for walks or drives, gardening, spending time with friends in the neighborhood and at church, playing the guitar and making quilts for each of her grandchildren’s high school graduation presents. After a break of a few years, her family trusts that she’s now joined the heavenly choir, playing guitar and singing with the beauty and skill she always dreamed she would have to praise God. Marilyn was born July 23, 1938, in McKeesport, Penn., and went to grade school and the first years of high school there. Her family moved to Santa Monica, Calif., when she was 16 and she graduated from St. Monica’s High School in 1956. Almost immediately after graduation, she began working in a doctor’s office. Managing the business side of medical practices became her profession. After moving with her family to Sandpoint in 1971, she worked for a variety of doctors in town. And, returning to school in her 40s, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Lewis and Clark State College to further her career. She is survived by: Robert, her husband of 43 years; her sisters Jeanne (Tom) and Rita (George); her children Rebecca (Jerry), Kimberly (Gary), Cheryl (Brent), Cindy, Craig (Valerie) and Christine (Curt); her grandchildren Katie, Natalie, Robbie, Ryan, Francie, Tiffany, Ashley, Cortney, Carley, Alan and Eric; her great-grandchildren, loving nieces and nephews, and cousins. The family thanks the community of St. Joseph’s, the staff at Luther Park, the team at Bonner Community Hospice, Community Cancer Services of Sandpoint and her oncologist Dr. Howard Stang, for their loving care of Marilyn and her family. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Joseph’s youth group (Jr. and Sr. ICY) or to Community Cancer Services of Sandpoint.