Marilyn Widen

A Beloved wife, Loving Mother and Grandmother, Sister, and Loyal Friend.

Marilyn was born on April 16, 1939, in Fall River Massachusetts, and died peacefully on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in Laguna Woods, California.

Marilyn graduated from University of Massachusetts Amherst obtaining her Master’s Degree in Education. While attending she met beloved husband Don, a commissioned Air Force Second Lieutenant, who was attending MIT. They were married in June 1963 and had two children – Michael and Kim.

Marilyn moved from coast to coast frequently, part of being a military family, spending time in California, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Marilyn was an elementary school teacher for many years before transitioning to medical transcribing which allowed her to be home and actively involved in supporting Don’s and the kid’s lives. After Don’s death, Marilyn found new purpose helping others by actively engaging in her church with becoming a Stephen Minister and starting a prayer shawl ministry which gave out its 3,000th shawl last year.

She lived her life with kindness, strength, and humility. Loved beyond words, she leaves a void in the hearts of everyone blessed to know her.

She is survived by her son, Michael; daughter, Kim; daughter-in-law, Andrea; son-in-law Paul Salceda; grandchildren, Bethany and Spencer Widen; sisters, Connie Bass and Beverly Welsh of MA, brothers-in-law, Carl Shaw, Robert Bass, and David Welsh and sister-in-law Sharon Long of South Carolina.

Funeral Service will be held on June 10th at 2pm at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church, 26001 Muirlands Blvd., Mission Viejo, CA with a small reception immediately following.

Flowers are welcome, or contributions may be made in Marilyn’s memory to the American Cancer Society.