Marilyn Colletta AML
Foundation (MCAF)
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Marilyn Colletta AML
Foundation (MCAF)
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Marilyn Colletta
Marilyn came into this world as Marilyn Elardo on May 20, 1948. During December 1970 while working at the New York Telephone Company in Queens, New York she met Joseph Colletta, and on August 28, 1971, they were married. Together Marilyn & Joseph had two sons, Peter & Michael. Marilyn was always a very devoted wife & mother; she always gave 100% to her family. Marilyn stayed at home for many years caring for her family, running around taking the boys to various activities after school and attending to her ill father and aunt. Still she found a way to volunteer at Church events and for various charitable organizations. People naturally gravitated towards her. At parties, she was always the first on the dance floor; usually helping the MC’s to get the party going. When someone had an idea, Marilyn was the first to rally behind them and cheer them on. Her heart and her kitchen were always open. Marilyn’s motto’s were ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ and ‘it pays to be nice to people.’ Marilyn always put her family and friends before herself, and for this, she was always surrounded with love. Once the boys were in their senior year of high school Marilyn knew that they were growing into fine young independent men, and decided to return to the work force. She accepted a position with Vytra Health Plans, located in Melville, New York and worked there for eleven years. While there, by the testament of her coworkers, she fostered a new family of friends – her Vytra family, which she cared for with the same devotion that she had given her own family. She always enjoyed being with her family, friends and Vytra family. Above all, she loved her Aruba vacations alone with her husband. On the weekend following her thirty-third wedding anniversary celebration with Joseph, Marilyn became suddenly ill. On Labor Day, September 6, 2004 she was rushed to the hospital. Within hours Marilyn was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), a terminal illness. She was immediately admitted and hospitalized consecutively for fifty-one days. Treatment started at St. Catherine’s. Later she was moved to Stony Brook University Medical Center for more aggressive treatments. Realizing she would not be cured, because of her immune systems resistance to all known drugs, Marilyn requested that she spend her last days at home with her family. On October 28, 2004, Marilyn returned home with a glow on her lovely face, happy to be home again with her family. Instead of worrying about her terminal illness, she was more than ever concerned about the welfare of her husband, two sons and daughter in-laws Kristen and Kelly. Despite her waning strength she crocheted several blankets to donate to the Binky Patrol – a non-profit charity that delivers hand made blankets to needy children. Marilyn right up to till the end of her life was still a very strong-minded individual and requested that when the time came, everyone must promise to move on with his or her lives! On the morning of Friday, February 25, 2005, Marilyn passed the way she wanted to, at home in her bed she shared with her husband for thirty-three and one half years. The sun was shinning on her lovely face, a tear in her eyes, her family and priest at her side, suffering no more. (Marilyn’s husband Joseph wrote her biography, this was the hardest task he ever did in his life) |
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