Marilyn Jean (Smith) Demmy, 67, of Harrisburg, joined her Lord on December 16th, 2017 at her home.
Born May 31, 1950 in Harrisburg, she was the daughter of the late Harry Smith and Evelyn (Springer) Smith of Carlisle.
Marilyn was a 1968 graduate of Central Dauphin High School. Following high school, she became an honor student at Maryland Medical Secretarial School, graduating in 1970. She worked for the former Tristan’s Associates at Polyclinic Radiology Department, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, was secretary to the Assistant Attorney General, and, after returning to the medical field, retired from Harrisburg Gastroenterology. Marilyn was also a Princess House supervisor, for which she won a number of sales awards.
She was very crafty and was a school room helper to her children’s teachers. A seamstress, she made suits for husband David, baby blankets for many of the children in the family, and baby bibs for many friends’ babies.
Marilyn served in her church, Crosspoint United Methodist Church, with her musical talents and co-directed the children’s choir with her sister Patti for over 20 years.
Surviving is her loving husband of 45 years, David W. Demmy, Sr.; her children, David W. Demmy, Jr, Harrisburg, Jonathan S. Demmy (and his wife, Melissa), Enola, and Jennifer L. Demmy, Harrisburg, 2 grandchildren, Aubree Demmy and Jameson Demmy; her mother, Evelyn Smith, Carlisle; her sister, Patricia A. Lusk-Robison (and her husband, Jeff Robison), Enola, her brother, Ronald E. Smith (and his wife, Robin), sister-in-laws, Debbie Livingston (and her husband, Larry) and Heidi Stanalonis (and her husband, Paul), as well as several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held 12:00 PM Thursday, December 21, 2017 at Crosspoint United Methodist Church, 430 Colonial Road, Harrisburg, with the Rev. David Biser, her pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
There will be a viewing at the church Thursday from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM.
Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 897, Hershey, 17033-0897.
Read on–Marilyn’s Eulogy by Son David, Jr.
Marilyn was born May 31, 1950 in Harrisburg. She was the daughter of Harry and Evelyn Smith.
Marilyn was a 1968 graduate of Central Dauphin High School. Following high school, she became an honor student at Maryland Medical Secretarial School, graduating in 1970. She worked for the former Tristan’s Associates at Polyclinic Radiology Department before taking her position as a stay-at-home mom. I bet working for a living was easier than taking care of us 3 crazy kids. We didn’t have much, but somehow mom and dad managed to make it work. Dad worked here at the church maintaining the property and Mom worked evenings selling Princess House Products to supplement dad’s full-time income, to be sure that we were always provided for.
Speaking of crazy kids, mom did some funny things of her own as a child. On moving day when she was about 4 or 5, she noticed some little holes in the wall previously hidden by furniture, so she decided to push a bobby pin into them. Let’s just say she knew at a very young age that becoming an electrician was not a goal. She used to sneak out of school and walk home to see her mommy. One day she even chased the milk truck home. Hey, you can’t make this stuff up.
Mom’s sister Patti remembers that they shared a bedroom upstairs. She says, I remember one Christmas Marilyn sat on the steps and wouldn’t budge. I was so mad at her because it was getting late and Santa Claus would be coming but he wouldn’t if she was still awake. She knew we were getting something special and that mom and dad had to go across the street to Aunt June and Uncle Bill’s to get it so she decided she was going to watch for it. Finally, mom and dad made her come up to bed. Our BIG present was a TV for our bedroom, and of course it was black and white.
Mom and dad were very strict with my sister and I, unlike our brother, who only had to worry about high watered pants and Harry Smith haircut. Mom, you probably don’t know this, but your oldest daughter would leave home with her skirt below her knees, but when she got to the high school, she would go into the bathroom and roll it up at the waste to bring it above her knees. Now it would have been nice if my sister would have shared this with me before I graduated high school. I thought this was a genius idea.
Mom was working with the youth group at church in the early 70’s where she met dad’s sister Debbie. Debbie made it a point to be sure mom and dad met. They were wed on a snowy weekend in April 1972, where they exchanged their vows “till death do us part”. Mom and dad loved each other so much that they renewed their vows more than once during their time together. Coincidentally, they were parted on a snowy weekend in December 2017.
Patti and Ron were a bit younger than mom, and they both said that she was like a second mother to them. They were all very close. In fact, Ron was quite upset at the idea of her marrying dad, because at the age of 8, he thought that meant she was leaving and he wouldn’t see her again.
Mom volunteered as a school room helper to our teachers. She used her artistic and craft talents in many ways too. As a seamstress, she made suits for dad, blankets for many of the children in the family, baby bibs, and all sorts of other things. She also made Jennifer’s prom dress. One thing I will always cherish is the Christmas wreath that she made for my front door when I purchased my first house.
Mom played an accordion, yes I said accordion, not the most popular musical instrument, but that was not the extent of mom’s musical career. She served in the church with her musical talents as well. She and her sister Patti sang many duets together growing up, were in the adult choir, and co-directed the children’s choir for over 20 years. Boy was I surprised the night mom told me “go get ready we’re going to choir practice”. To which I replied “I’m not going”, and mom responded with a strong “oh yes you are”. Guess who won that battle.
Anyone that is close to her knows she always had energy and was always on the go. Wonder where I get it from? And don’t get me started on rocking chairs. If there is a rocker nearby, you can bet mom could locate and occupy it. When I returned home from the funeral home on Saturday night, I walked into my living room, and at that moment on my digital picture frame was the picture of mom test driving the rocking chair that I made for her for mother’s day several years ago.
It was good that mom liked to sit in a rocker, cause she wasn’t always real swift on her feet. I can hear her voice now saying “hey, hey, wait a minute” at my previous comment. But one time I made a smart comment about her and she began to chase me thru the backyard. She stumbled, entered a forward roll, and ended up sitting Indian style in the middle of the yard. To which I laughed and said “how did you do that?” Its amazing she allowed me to live as long as I have—more on that later.
Nothing made mom happier than being a mother and a grandmother. Jonathan gave her grandkids, and she just lights up at the sight of them. And they loved mum-mum too. Little Jameson, only 18 months old, walked up to mom’s hospital bed just last week and said “Hi mum-mum!” for the first time. As sick as mom was, that brought a huge smile to her face. Little Aubree approached her and told her that she loved her and gave her a big hug. You could see the love and happiness in mom’s eyes.
Jennifer followed mom’s footsteps into the medical field and has become quite knowledgeable just like her mother. A talent that will surely be missed in the family but also lives on thru Jen.
She always took care of the family as well as anyone else that needed help. She used her craft talents to raise funds to help sick friends in need. When dad and I would spend long days or nights working at the church mowing lawns or plowing snow, many times mom would make us a hot meal and bring it to us to be sure we were fed.
She served along-side Jennifer and I on several mission trips to Florida, West Virginia, and even when we got chased out of Kansas in the middle of a tornado.
When I broke my leg at the age of 4, mom spent the night with me in the hospital almost every night from what I can remember. While at the same time caring for my baby brother and dad. That was just one of the many challenges in my life that I relied on mom to get me thru. At the age of 40, I can still go to her for advice and talk thru difficulties I’m going thru.
She babysat our cousin Bobby during the summer, took us to the pool in the afternoons, and mended our wounds. Even the ones when bobby headed down the driveway on my brother’s bike and crashed in the street in front of the UPS truck.
Its amazing we didn’t get killed with some of the things we did as kids. Actually, its amazing she didn’t kill us. But she had no problem providing the proper disciple that we needed either. Both corrective discipline, which we needed a lot, as well as spiritual discipline. Both have made us who we are today.
She was at all of our school events and sports events, even when it seemed nearly impossible to make those things happen. The sacrifice was always made in our favor. She and dad both worked together and equally shared the sacrifices to be sure that we received the best lives they could provide for us. Many times over the past year, mom has made comments to me about how much help she needs, and everything we are doing for her. I told her repeatedly that she has cared for us for all these years, its time for us to care for her. It just shows the example and teaching that she provided us.
So many people have commented on how she was such a wonderful lady and many have said that her smile was the first thing you saw anytime you met her. That’s something we already knew, but its obvious that her kindness and generosity was known by many, possibly more than we will ever know.
I want to close with some comments by my dad’s sister Heidi.
It’s hard to remember a time when Marilyn wasn’t in my life. My brother brought her home to meet the family when I was 5 or 6. She was wonderfully sweet to me and her warmth drew me in immediately. I remember running to hug her, when they would visit, and sit on her lap.
On a snowy April day she became part of our family and I was so excited to be her flower girl. After that, family events were more fun because I had one more sister. Eventually, she gave birth to my nephew – another exciting day for me – I was an Aunt! Their family grew through the years bringing laughter and joy to all of us.
Marilyn is the quintessential daughter, sister, wife, mother and mum mum. Her concern for others is evident in the way she says “God Love Her” or ”God Love Him” as if she is praying at the moment for someone in need. Her nurturing ways took care of spouse, children, siblings and parents in time of need. Her creative nature has made the world more beautiful as she shared her talents for crafts, music and singing. Her generosity has no limits – what wouldn’t she do for her family and friends?
It’s easy to love Marilyn. It’s blessed to be loved by her.