Marilyn Joan Van Wagenen died peacefully in her sleep Sunday evening, November 12, 2017, at Bayberry Place Assisted Living Center, Lower Burrell, Pa. She was 86.

Marilyn was born Feb 22, 1931, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.; a daughter of Alva "Cub" and Irma (Blaska) Libert. She attended boarding school as a young woman and later graduated from Edgewood College, both in Madison, WI, where she earned a B.A. in elementary education.

Marilyn would later meet her husband Peter, a future steel executive, whom she married and shared a life with for 48 years. The two would later move to Lower Burrell, Pa. where they began their journey of raising five sons.

During that period she would embark on her lifelong dream of teaching kindergarten, honing her  skills around a busy family life that eventually led her to Hermitage, Pa; and Notre Dame Parochial Grade School where she taught for many years.

She loved and embraced the Shenango Valley where she made numerous friends and was often recognized around town as the woman who taught their sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters long after she retired.

A deeply religious person, Marilyn was a devout Catholic who prayed often for others with a special place in her heart for Mary, the mother of Jesus. Later in life she would make a special pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.

Her beloved husband of nearly 49 years, Peter A. Van Wagenen, whom she married August 13, 1955, passed away August 24, 2004.

She is survived by her sons and their wives , Christopher and Kathleen of Pearland, Texas; Mark and Julie of Suwanee, Ga., Jeffrey and Lori  of Friendswood, Texas; Greg and Holly of Lower Burrell, Pa; and Army Brigadier  Gen. Matthew and Stephanie Van Wagenen, currently stationed at  Ft. Hood, Texas.

She is also survived by seven grandchildren Anthony and MIchael of Suwanee, Ga.; Brittany (Nicholas) Scannell  and Josh of Friendswood, Texas; Hope (Colin) Jack, Haley and Hannah of Lower Burrell, Pa., and Isabel and David of Ft. Hood, Texas.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Larry Libert.

The family would like to express thanks to staff of the Bayberry Place Assisted Living Center, Lower Burrell, Pa.; who took care of Marilyn for the past year as well as Gateway Hospice, Pittsburgh; in particular Jill and Stacey.

Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Lower Burrell, Pa.