Marilyn Carol Kennedy Shaughnessy

 February 5, 1938 - March 24, 2020 

Marilyn Shaughnessy always had a smile on her face and some pep in her step. She was born Marilyn Carol Kennedy on Saturday, February 5, 1938, at 5:53 pm at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica, New York to the late Caryl and Helen Kennedy of Hollis, New York. She had no siblings but was raised with the closest of cousins, Harry and Kenny White.  As a child, she took singing lessons to overcome her stuttering, and she sang with her Church Choir for many years. Marilyn was a dental hygienist until she met and married Robert M. Shaughnessy on June 7, 1958.  They settled in West Islip, New York and eventually retired to Ocean City, Maryland and Spring Hill, Florida. 

They had three beautiful children together, Kevin, Noreen, and Michael. Marilyn loved being a mother, and she never missed an event or an opportunity to dote over her children. She later discovered she loved being a grandmother more than anything in the world. She loved attending soccer, football, basketball, ballet, recitals, and school concerts and was the proudest grandmother in the audience. 

Her favorite hobby was making arts and crafts. She loved going to their summer condo in Ocean City on 143rd Street, and she loved her dogs. Boy, did she love her dogs. She was crazy about them. Kelly was the first Irish Setter. He was a handful, and the stories are endless. Then there was Christy, another Irish Setter, a rescue from the front yard who was trapped in the snow. Then there was Sparky, the swimming Golden Retriever, who barked at the tv every time an animal appeared on it, followed by Patty, the most spoiled Irish Setter of all time, and lastly there was Sweety, a teacup Schnauzer.

As she got older, dementia started to consume her, and in her final years, she lived with her daughter, Noreen, and, son-in-law, Brandon in Orlando, Florida. She went everywhere they did.  Her favorite spot was Sea World, and she never got tired of seeing the killer whales. She also enjoyed going to the movies and getting a kid’s combo pack along with her grandchildren.

Several years ago, Marilyn was diagnosed with several types of cancer and given about 3 months to live. However, due to her strong spirit and the wonderful care provided by several caregivers, including the always ever-constant Terry Palacio (a woman whom she loved very much and considered a sister), she beat those odds and fought cancer for over 3 years thereafter. Sadly, on March 24, 2020, Marilyn passed away peacefully in her sleep. Up until her last days, she was happy and smiling. 

Marilyn leaves behind her son, Kevin, and his wife, Linda, and their two children, Hailey and Spencer; her daughter, Noreen Benford, and her husband, Brandon Banks, and their two children, Jack Benford and Madeline Banks; and her son, Michael, and his wife, Donna, and their two children, Connor and Patrick. 

Unfortunately, because of the current global pandemic situation, we are unable to have a service or burial for her at this time. Marilyn will be cremated, and as soon as the Coronavirus passes, we will hold a Catholic Mass and service for her, followed by her burial next to her husband at the Veteran cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.

Below is a collection of pictures that beautifully capture Mom’s life.  We welcome you to share your pictures of Marilyn, as well as your stories and comments about her. Click on the Submit Memories Tab and they will be posted.  For now, this is the only way we can celebrate Mom, and we welcome you to join our celebration of Mom.