Marilyn T. Hart

Rensselaer-Marilyn T. Hart passed away peacefully December 24, 2023 at St. Peter’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Albany, of complications from a massive stroke she suffered more than 6 years ago. Marilyn was the daughter of the late Thomas Hart and Florence Endres Hart. She grew up in Rensselaer, New York and graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in Albany. Marilyn was employed for 36 years at New York Telephone, NYNEX, and Verizon, from which she retired as an Engineering Manager.

Marilyn was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Thomas Hart (Dee). She is survived by her sister, Shirley Thens (the late Harry), her nieces, Kelly Hart Tyree and Kathleen Tommasin, nephews, Mark, Michael, Patrick and Thomas Hart and Peter Thens, as well as by many grandnieces, grandnephews, and great grandnieces and nephews. Survivors also include a wide circle of wonderful, faithful friends.

Marilyn was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Rensselaer for many years. The spirituality of the parish community greatly enhanced her own spiritual growth and moved her to take an active role in the life of the parish and beyond. She served as a trustee of the Church and a member of the Parish Council. She was active on the Finance Committees of both the parish and St. Joseph St. John’s Academy where she showed her strong support of Catholic education.

Following her retirement, Marilyn dedicated herself to being a volunteer par excellence. She served as a member of the Advisory Board of CoNSERNS-U, where she clocked many hours as a volunteer. She carved out time in her already busy schedule to coordinate the VITA Tax program at Circles of Mercy, a service to many families. Circles of Mercy acknowledged her volunteer work as a VITA Site Coordinator by honoring Marilyn with the Gail Reith Volunteer Award and by the CASH coalition of the greater capital district bestowing the Wally Donnelly Award. Marilyn took pride in being an Associate of the Sisters of Mercy and was willing to serve on many committees and projects.

Marilyn was an accomplished bowler and a longtime member of the Albany Women’s Bowling Association and 600 Club. Early on, she developed what became a life-long love of the outdoors as a counselor at Marian Lodge, a diocesan camp in the Adirondacks. She participated as both camper and counselor and seldom missed a Marian Lodge reunion. She loved the outdoors; she played golf, swam, cross country skied, kayaked, and walked.

A stroke more than six years ago left Marilyn partially paralyzed, but she refused to be defined by her disability. Although the stroke took away her ability to talk, Marilyn spoke volumes with the voice of her compassionate presence to other patients, staff, and visitors. She propelled herself around the nursing home in her wheelchair to be where the action was, whether to join in a scheduled activity to the extent that she was able, or attend religious services, or pray at the bedside of a dying resident or receive visitors.

We are grateful to the staff at St Peter’s Nursing and Rehab Center for the compassionate care they offered Marilyn over the past six years.

Marilyn’s wake will be at the William J. Lyons Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Avenue, Rensselaer, on Friday, December 29 from 4 -7 pm. Her funeral liturgy will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, December 30, at the Convent of Mercy Chapel, 634 New Scotland Avenue, Albany. Burial will follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rensselaer. Donations in Marilyn’s memory may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 634 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208 or CoNSERNS-U, 201 Academy Street, Rensselaer, NY 12144