Obituary of Marilyn Baldrate

Marilyn J. Baldrate, a woman who exuded love, kindness, and faith passed away suddenly on Wednesday afternoon, October 2, 2013. She was 88 years old. Marilyn was born in the family homestead in Everett. She grew up and was educated in Everett. She attended Nursing School. Marilyn worked for the telephone company prior to having children. She married Joseph Baldrate on May 1st 1948. They remained happily married for 63 years, until Joe passed away in December of 2011. They had 3 children. The youngest, Nancy, was a special needs child. Marilyn learned of the Doman-Delacato Patterning program, a new program to help brain injured children like Nancy. That was all she needed and soon she was off coordinating as many as 144 volunteers a week who came to her home to help with Nancy’s therapy. It was a seven-day per week, nine to five program. Many of those volunteers were friends and others were friends of friends. Many are friends to this day. Marilyn never forgot the unselfish acts of kindness showed upon her and her family in trying to provide the best possible life for her daughter. Discovering the lack of resources for those with special needs in Burlington, Marilyn fought to establish programs and activities including the Easter Seals Special Olympics, day camps, and public education. Marilyn’s life mission not only enriched Nancy’s life, but all those special children who lived in Burlington. Throughout these difficult times, Marilyn devoted her life to taking care of her family. She managed to keep a steady home and providing the best care for her “Special Angel”. Marilyn and her husband Joe were a team. They shared their unselfish devotion to their family, a strong faith in God, and the joy of experiencing the wonders of the world around them. They enjoyed traveling and meeting people, many who became lifelong friends. They enjoyed trips to Arcadia National Parks, Nova Scotia, and Minnesota, where they studied wolves. They lived in Hawaii for 4 years and loved returning to the islands. Marilyn’s favorite island was Molokai, where she was engrossed in the life of Saint Damien of Molokai and the struggles of the victims of Hanson’s disease who were exiled to the remote Kalaupapa. Her two trips to this remote colony were pilgrimages that remained close to her heart. She visited Damian’s grave, his church, St. Philomena’s, and researched his life’s work. Marilyn was a very active parishioner of St. Margaret’s Church. She attended daily mass and was a member of the Catholic Daughters. One of her talents was hand quilting. She took great pride in creating quilts, pillows, bags and shirts. In recent years, she enjoyed spending her time at the Burlington Council on Aging participating in the exercise programs, activities, and lunches. With her warm, kind, and sincere persona, she made friends easily and for life. She spent her life giving her all for those she loved, and her unexpected passing leaves emptiness in the hearts of all her family and friends. Marilyn was the beloved wife of late Joseph O. Baldrate. She was the loving mother of Stephen Baldrate & his wife Pamela of Billerica, Karl Baldrate & his wife Olga of Shirley, and the late Nancy Baldrate. She was the sister of Barbara Harney of Billerica. Marilyn was the proud grandmother of Jessica and Stephen Joseph Baldrate of Billerica and Emily Stanikmas of Acton and the extremely proud great-grandmother of Madison Baldrate-Rivard and Carter Stanikmas. She was also the mother-in-law of Janice Baldrate of Boxborough. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Monday, October 7 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday from 3-6 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Marilyn’s name may be made to St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington, MA 01803.