Marilyn Gonyou

Marilyn was born on March 21, 1938, in Marquette to Mary Agnes (Beauchamp) and Wilfred Gereau, and lived most of her life in Marquette, graduating from Baraga High School in 1956. She met George (Edward) Gonyou, a Canadian Air Force service member who was stationed at KI Sawyer, and they were married in 1963. She and Ed moved to Canada to start a family but eventually moved back to Marquette where the children were raised. She spent her entire adult career working for Michigan Bell, for many years as a telephone operator. Almost everyone in Marquette spoke with her at some point in their lives merely by placing a telephone call. Her children would “call her at work” by simply dialing zero and taking a chance that she would answer. When automation made telephone operators obsolete, she transitioned to another position with AT&T and remained with “the phone company” until retirement.

Marilyn surprised everyone shortly after she retired by moving to Europe with Ed to help as a nanny-grandma for her new grandson born there. She had the opportunity to travel all over Europe and enjoyed pointing out to the Europeans all the things that were not like the U.P. She returned to Marquette for just a few years and then moved again, this time to San Antonio, where she found the warmer weather, and living near two of her children who were also there, much to her liking. During the San Antonio years, she traveled extensively all over the US and Canada, driving or flying everywhere like no trip was ever too challenging to stop her. Wherever she was, she mostly enjoyed the people – cooking or baking or doing things for them. She enjoyed her card games and won the games way too often for her children’s liking. In the few moments when the grandchildren weren’t around, she and Ed would pass the evenings with Wheel of Fortune and old movies.

Marilyn tackled challenges in her life from the day she was born as a one-pound preemie, the youngest child in a family of four. Overcoming such a rough start was just a sign of the strength she would capitalize on for the rest of her life. She suffered from Crohn’s disease for most of her life. As a young mother she slipped on ice on the way to get her Christmas hairdo and broke a hip. A few months later her appendix ruptured and she had another trip to the hospital. Some years later she fell down the stairs and broke her back. Seemingly indestructible, she bounced back from each of these challenges (and more) time after time. In 2015 when doctors found pancreatic cancer, no one doubted her ability to fight back, and she did – surviving four times longer than the typical pancreatic cancer patient. Unfortunately, a lifetime of fighting left Marilyn tired, and when the cancer returned in November, it was one battle too many.

Marilyn is survived by her husband, Ed, sons Michael (Heidi Tamlyn) of St. Paul, Minn., Stephen (Melissa) of San Antonio, Brian (Sherry Fraley) of San Antonio, daughter Michelle Peterson (Scott) of Gwinn, Mich., fifteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins and old high school friends. As the youngest child from her family and the last to leave us, her family is now back together, playing cards, no doubt.

According to Marilyn’s wishes, no services will be held at this time. She asked that when Ed “catches up with her,” a joint service would be held at that time. She will be laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery next to her parents, sister, brother, and great-grandson.

Memorials can be directed to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, in memory of Marilyn Gonyou. Castle Ridge Mortuary of San Antonio is handling arrangements. A guestbook is available at www.castleridgemortu ary.com.