Obituary of Marilynn P. Van Auken

Marilynn Patricia Van Auken, 70, Clifton Park, New York passed away on December 18, 2017  in the “Hospice Inn” at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY.  Marilynn fought a brave and courageous battle against a rare gall bladder cancer; spanning, 2 years.

Marilynn was born in Port Jervis, New York to Henry and Patricia Grusz on 07/30/1947. She went to Port Jervis High School, Port Jervis, New York where she was a basketball and football cheerleader for 4 years; she graduated in 1964.  She was Miss Deer Park in 1964 and participated in the Orange County Fall Festival Beauty pageant in Middletown, NY.

Marilynn is a graduate of the Wilfred Academy in New York City.  She was licensed in NYS to be a Cosmetologist and Beautician..

She married Bradford J. Van Auken Jr. on 6/10/1967 in Port Jervis, NY.

She worked as a Cosmetologist/Hairdresser in Brooklyn, NY, a Bank Clerk at the Bowery Savings Bank in Manhattan, NY, a Bank Clerk at County National Bank in Port Jervis, NY, and as a Tax Clerk at the Wappingers Falls Tax Office in Wappingers Falls, NY. She retired from the Wappingers Falls Tax Office in 1993 when she moved to Williston, Vermont with her husband.

She was an avid reader of cook books and owned an extensive collection; she called her cook books, “her friends”.   She loved travel; especially taking numerous vacations with her family to Florida and numerous vacations to Maui with husband Brad. 

She loved her 3 children and 7 grandchildren dearly; and, loved cooking for her family and grandchildren.  Her grandchildren loved Grammy’s meatballs.

She and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this summer with a large party sponsored by her children; they followed up with a vacation on Maui.

She was predeceased by her father Henry F. Grusz in 1972

Marilynn is survived by her husband Bradford J. Van Auken Jr. of Clifton Park. NY

Children: Bradford H. Van Auken; wife Irene Clegg, of Stamford, CT
and Trevor J. Van Auken; wife Lisa Miller, of Manvel, Texas, Mia D. Van Auken-Clay; husband Michael T. Clay, of Clifton Park, NY and siblings: Daniel Grusz; wife Marilyn, Barbara Grusz Prisco, she is also survived by her mother Patricia P. Grusz of Port Jervis, NY. Her grandchildren: Trevor J. Van Auken Jr and Courtney Van Auken of Manvel, Texas, Michael B. Clay, Mathew T. Clay, and Nathaniel R. Clay of Clifton Park, NY, Bradford W. Van Auken, and Summer I. Van Auken, of Stamford, CT. and several nieces and nephews 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Edwards Church, 569 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park, NY.,  on December 22, 2017 at 10am with Reverend Patrick Butler Pastor, of St. Edwards Church as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Waterford, NY. 

Calling hours will be held at Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home 1550 RT-9 Clifton Park, NY 12065 on Thursday, December 21, 2017 from  2-4 and 6-8 PM.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to ‘The Angels’ who work at ‘Hospice Inn’ at St. Peter’s Hospital, in Albany, NY