Marilyn A. Werner

Marilyn Ann Werner passed away on Wednesday, February 19th, at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, in New London, CT. She is home with His Heavenly Fath in accordance with Peter 3:22 “she has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand with angels.” Marilyn was a woman of God, always sharing her love of the Lord and scriptures with others who crossed her path. She started each day reading the bible to ease her anxieties and pray fervently for those she loved and cared about. She was born “Marilyn Ann Novotny” on 12-20-1943, at The Newport Hospital to her parents, Louise C. (Bailey) Ruggeri, a nursery attendant, and Joseph E. Novotny, a milkman, residing at 34 Elm Street in Newport. She was baptized at St. Joseph’s Church on 1-23-44, and her Godparents were Joseph Caen and Helena Ruggeri. As an only child her memories of her upbringing were fond especially of those with Mother and her best friend Denny. Her father died at the age of 41 and her mother at the age of 58. She was admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences at Salve Regina College in 9-1961 graduating in 1965 receiving a degree majoring in Biology and a minor in Education. Marilyn met the love of her life, Leonard (Lee) Thomas Werner and after a very brief courtship married on 10-30-65. For the next few years, they endeavored to have a child unsuccessfully and were living in Maine. On 10-12-68, they traveled to St. Andre’s Home in Biddeford, Maine and signed an adoptive home placement agreement to adopt a baby boy who was born 1-5-68, a gift to them from God, whose chosen name is David Earl Werner. Parenthood was new to them both and they enjoyed the memories that they created and often reminisced about heartedly laughing each recollection. One in particular “that they both dropped him on his head.” They brought their son up with the teaching of God, living in Maine, Newport, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Len and Marilyn were pastors at Open Door Church in Orange, MA. Over the years while Len was dedicated to his continued education in the Ministry and Boy Scouts, Marilyn enjoyed playing the accordion, singing and playing the piano, all self-taught. They enjoyed their home that they shared together on Fairway Drive in North Windham. Both Len and Marilyn enjoyed staying home throughout their life. A favorite memory was traveling across the country with David. After Len was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Marilyn dedicated the rest of her life to take care of her husband and support her son. They both were members of Gospel Light Christian Fellowship. When not at Church, Marilyn enjoyed swimming with her lady’s group, getting her hair and nails done and going for coffee with friends. Both Len and Marilyn were loving, nurturing parents, believing in their son, David, supporting him in all possible ways throughout his upbringing and adulthood. They always spoke and believed that God has a purpose and a plan for his life, to be saved, and prayed that he would never lose Faith, find his way, grow, surrender and have a happy life. Len predeceased Marilyn on 11-4-2020. Marilyn’s feisty but loving persona and her infectious smile, love and laughter will be immensely missed. Marilyn was one of the strongest women, always saying by Jesus’s stripes your healed. She ended up spending the last 15 months of her life in 3 separate nursing homes and in and out of hospitals, surviving COVID 4 times, sepsis, double pneumonia, hypoxia, bed and heal sores and she didn’t want a DNR. God pulled her literally from death several times and she said “I’m not ready to go” , always resilient. During this time, she was able to enjoy the company through numerous visits from with her son David, and her daughter in Christ, also DPOA, Petricia S. Weaver, and visits with her Granddaughter, Cierra Werner, Great-Grandchildren Aria Ramos and Nolan Werner, as well as friends, neighbors and her Pastors, Lois and Ralph Stravato.

The family is truly grateful and thankful for the outpouring of love, thoughtfulness and kindness. The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Lawrence and Memorial Staff Members from the Cardiac and ICU units. The level of care, empathy, respect, kindness and compassion shown to Marilyn was beyond measure making her transition from life to death, as anxiety and pain free as possible and she was truly at peace. Marilyn now has her wings and is watching over her loved ones eternally.

There will be a celebration of life at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street, Willimantic, 06226 on Saturday, April 19, 2025, Calling hours from 10am – 11am and Funeral Service from 11:00am-12:00 noon. Details yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to offer a donation in Marilyn’s name to Gospel Light Christian Fellowship C/O Stravato, 61 Dog Hill Rd., Dayville, CT 06241 (860-779-2418)