Marilyn Marlene Ingrid James was born on July 11, 1955, to Emerine James in Scarborough Colonial Hospital on the island of Tobago. During her childhood years on Old Road in Scarborough, Marilyn -- also known as Mari -- developed her fondness for family and her sense of adventure, as she grew up surrounded by a large family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and her siblings Clyde and Sarita. In Tobago, she attended the Scarborough Anglican Girls School, making the walk to and from school barefoot with family members, and oftentimes after school she would look for the ripest mangoes to take home.

Marilyn immigrated to Brooklyn, New York in August 1970, and adapted to life as a New Yorker while always keeping her Tobago roots. She attended Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn and the City College of NY in the 1970’s, before starting a career in nursing that spanned over 40 years. In her career as a licensed practical nurse, Marilyn worked at a number of nursing homes in Brooklyn, including Cabs Nursing Home and Madonna Residence.

Although Marilyn moved to Queens in 1989, she continued to make the daily commute to Brooklyn, rising up early to ensure that she was there for her patients. In 2023, Marilyn retired from Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn, where she had worked for 33 years. She was a dedicated nurse who went the extra mile for her patients and fellow nursing staff, and her gift of caretaking always extended to family members who were in need.

Marilyn was a loving mother to her only child Kyle, born in March 1983, who survives her and carries on her legacy. As a single parent, Marilyn went above and beyond to play the role of mom, dad, and siblings for Kyle. Marilyn engrained the values of honesty, discipline and education in her son, and most importantly her faith in the Almighty Creator and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Marilyn was always present on the weekly family prayer call, often ending the call with her prayer for everyone to ‘have a blessed week.’

As a pillar in the James family, Marilyn led by example in kindness and generosity, and was known for her hospitality. Upon her retirement in 2023, Marilyn continued in her passion for travel. She was a constant presence at family gatherings, birthday celebrations, reunions, and would always be looking forward to the next travel destination. Marilyn travelled extensively with family and her son Kyle, visiting over 20 countries, including Egypt, South Africa, India, Portugal and Spain. Even while she travelled extensively, she was always the most excited to go home, back to Tobago, to spend time with family and to get in some ‘sea baths.’

Marilyn leaves behind a close family of her son, aunts, an uncle, cousins, nieces, and friends across the U.S., Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Europe. She was predeceased by her mother Emerine and her brother Clyde. To our beloved Marilyn, we are grateful for the time that we had with you and will cherish our memories all our days. We love you and miss you. We pray that your spirit is at rest and that we will reunite again in the New Jerusalem. Rest in Perfect Peace.

 

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