After graduating, Marilyn worked as an Executive Assistant at Sinclair Oil Corporation in New York City in the International Department. This was where she met Edward Joseph Hughes. She and Ed were married for 60 years until his death in 2019.  Ed was the love of Marilyn’s life and she missed him terribly when he passed away. Marilyn left Sinclair to raise her children and was very involved in volunteering at their schools and with their various sports and activities. After the children were grown, she began her second career in insurance and rose to Sales Manager at Sentry Insurance in Parsippany, New Jersey until she retired to Chatham, Massachusetts.

In Chatham, Marilyn was a member of the Chatham Women’s Club, Holy Redeemer Women’s Guild, Chatham Garden Club, the Juliets, and the Monomoy Yacht Club.  Marilyn had a love and appreciation for many things in life, especially living by the beach. She was the first to laugh and had a wonderful way of connecting with people. She was blessed to have many friends and would tell everyone that her most cherished time was spent with family, especially her grandchildren. She loved to travel and had the opportunity to visit many exotic and beautiful places around the world with Ed.  She also enjoyed spending time, both in and out of the water, with her much-loved water aerobics group “The Periwrinkles.”  

Marilyn will lovingly be remembered by her children, Pamela Jean Yannoni (Stephan) of Pinehurst, North Carolina; Edward Joseph Jr. of Springfield, New Jersey; and Melissa Connell Altman (Joseph) of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, as well her adoring grandchildren, Amanda Yannoni Scherfler (Johannes), Lindsey and Luke Yannoni, Julia Altman Coco (Craig), Samantha Altman and Caroline Isabella and Cameron Hughes Connell.

The family would like to extend its thanks to Dr. Christopher Ogilvy, Head of Neurovascular Surgery and Director of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Brain Aneurysm Institute, for his compassionate and skillful work. He convinced his team to operate on Marilyn in her 80s and because of his leadership, kindness, and humanity, she had several healthy and happy years for which her family is forever grateful. His incredible staff was involved in her care until the end. 

Her funeral will be held at a later date with burial to follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton.