Obituary of Marilyn Frances Hartford

Click on this link to go the Catholic Parishes of Arlington website to view the funeral mass at 10 a.m. On Wednesday

Marilyn Frances (Beck) Hartford, passed away at Windrose at Woburn on Friday, August 20, 2021.  The beloved wife of the late William Hartford, she was 85 years old.

Marilyn was born in Cambridge.  She was the daughter of the late Roy and Mary Beck.  Marilyn was raised and educated in Reading. She was a proud Reading Rocket to the end. After high school attended Cambridge City Nursing School.  It was while she was working at Cambridge City Hospital that she would meet her future husband William Hartford, a ConRail Police Officer.  They married in 1959 and lived briefly in Cambridge before settling in Brighton where they would raise their two children. Marilyn loved her Brighton Community. She was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout Troop Leader. She enjoyed creating and running the Field Day at St Col’s with her good friend MaryLou Jacobs. Marilyn and Bill were both active members of K of C #122.

In 1980, she moved her family to Arlington.  A new community brought new friends. It was with these friends that they travelled to Hawaii, Ireland, and the Caribbean.  Marilyn and Bill had a wonderful life together. 

With her caring and nurturing nature, being a nurse was the perfect job for Marilyn. In addition to working at Cambridge Hospital she worked at the Santa Maria Hospital in Cambridge and Visiting Nurse and Community Care in Arlington. Marilyn’s faith was a very important part of her life, and she was a longtime member of St Columkille’s, St. Jerome’s, and St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington.   Marilyn attended Mass daily.   

Marilyn was a wonderful mother to her two children Karen and Billy.  She was always there for her children and was an “other mother” to many of their friends.  She was a role model for her children, providing them with unconditional love, support, and guidance throughout their lives. 

Hampton Beach was a special place for Marilyn. She loved time spent at the beach and entertaining family and friends.  Many special family memories were made at Hampton Beach.

Marilyn had the true gift of friendship which was a unique and special quality.  Once you were her friend, you were always her friend.  She maintained lifelong friendships with her group of friends from Reading High School and they got together monthly for lunches for many years.  Marilyn also had her church friends, her ABGC exercise friends, and her Hampton Beach friends.  She would keep in touch with people through cards, poems, lunches, and BEE grams for special events in their lives. Marilyn will be remembered for her high energy level, her outgoing and welcoming personality, and her love for her family. 

Marilyn was the beloved wife of the late William.  She was the loving mother of Karen Hartford and William C. Hartford both of Arlington.  Sister of Robert Beck & his wife Dotty  of NJ and the late Helen Gish. Marilyn is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.   Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington, on Tuesday, August 24th from 4-7pm.  Funeral from the Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 25 at 8:45am. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Agnes Church, Medford St., Arlington at 10am.  --Masks are REQUIRED at the church.--  Interment to follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Arlington.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Marilyn’s name may be made to Saint Columbkille School, 25 Arlington St., Brighton, MA 02135 www.stcps.org