Marilyn Rysiewicz

Marilyn was born and grew up in Detroit, briefly worked for the USIA in Mexico City and then moved to Santa Rosa, Calif. Marilyn loved living in northern California. There she crafted a career as administrative assistant for the State of California.

Her first husband, Ric Kincaid, passed in 1994.

She is survived by her husband and friend of 25 years, Lorne Ledger; his mother, Sandra Bartosh; and his sister, Lorraine Ledger of Austin, Texas, where Marilyn lived the last many years of her life. She is also survived by her sister, Elaine Rysiewicz of Calumet and Lansing, Mich.; her aunt, Lorraine (Bolek) Debakker of Norway; and many first cousins.

Marilyn would tell you she never owned a cat but rather that she was honored to live with them. At her passing, Emmy, Persephone and Davos were her current companions. After retirement, she volunteered at Thundering Paws Cat Sanctuary in Austin. There she spent time with many cats, all of whom she was sympatico with. They all reacted happily because they immediately knew when she arrived.

Marilyn was a spiritual person and strived to become her best self throughout her life. She sought the love and good in the world and cultivated her own forgiving heart.

Her ashes were interred in the Norway Township Cemetery today, on the Rysiewicz/Debakker family plot.