Marilyn Gail Mogill
July 1, 1933 — August 28, 2005
Marilyn Gail Mogill, 68, passed away Sunday at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Marilyn was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Irene Mogill and her sister, Estelle Zelner.
Funeral arrangements are being made by Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion. Graveside services will be held at Waldheim Cemetery in North Riverside, Illinois, on Tuesday, August 30, 2005, at 1:00 p.m.
Marilyn touched many people?s lives, but none more than her special friends, who have been taking care of her for eighteen years, Toni and Giora Neta. The Netas met Marilyn in Chicago, and ultimately became her guardians. She has been living with them in Cedar Rapids and this became her home.
Obituaries often list people?s accomplishments. Marilyn didn?t have the typical ones, but in fact, had some that many people with "accomplishments? never achieve. Marilyn had a gift for engaging everyone she met with her warmth, charm, personality and spirit. Despite some very difficult challenges she had to face in her life, she was extremely determined not to give in to them. She often described herself as a "soldier.? She was actually a soldier of life! Her biggest "accomplishment? was finally getting her freedom, and being able to come and live with Toni and Giora in the community "like everybody else.?
Marilyn loved going out and doing things. She loved to feed the geese and the ducks at Ellis Park with her best friend and advocate, Giora, who she always referred to as "Pierre.? They went out every day for coffee or pop after he would pick her up from Milestones, and she adored her time with him. She loved music, and attended many community theatre productions, as well as performances at the high schools and area colleges. She enjoyed animals, especially dogs, and loved to go to pet stores or the Humane Society to see and pet them. Marilyn got to see the Disney On Ice two years in a row, and loved the show. She was familiar figure at her favorite place, The Lighthouse. Craig Wood and Dick Watson became her friends and recently played Happy Birthday to her while the patrons sang along. It was to be her last visit there and she danced with Giora "on the floor with all the lights? and people were moved and clapped when the music ended.
Marilyn made many friends who will miss her very much. She loved the time she spent at Milestones and she was extremely well taken care of by the staff there. She was especially attached to Audrey, Debbie, Becca and Nancy, (a.k.a. Miss Blackburn), as well as many others. Other dear friends who gave her so much of themselves are Sherry, Karen, Carol, Ivory, Mary Beth, Ronnie and Susan.
Marilyn spent much of the last year receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic. She was taken care of there by doctors and nurses with skill, compassion, patience and respect. The Netas and Marilyn are extremely grateful to her surgeon, Dr. Farnell, her oncologist, Dr. Grothey, and her radiologist, Dr. Haddock. She spent her last days at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, and was very fortunate again to have wonderful care by her doctors, Dr. Beckett, Dr. Wilharm, Dr. Doce, and the nursing staff.
A memorial fund is being established in her name at Milestones Adult Day Health Care in Cedar Rapids. Contributions may be sent in care of Audrey Reid.
Funeral arrangements are being made by Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion. Graveside services will be held at Waldheim Cemetery in North Riverside, Illinois, on Tuesday, August 30, 2005, at 1:00 p.m.
Marilyn touched many people?s lives, but none more than her special friends, who have been taking care of her for eighteen years, Toni and Giora Neta. The Netas met Marilyn in Chicago, and ultimately became her guardians. She has been living with them in Cedar Rapids and this became her home.
Obituaries often list people?s accomplishments. Marilyn didn?t have the typical ones, but in fact, had some that many people with "accomplishments? never achieve. Marilyn had a gift for engaging everyone she met with her warmth, charm, personality and spirit. Despite some very difficult challenges she had to face in her life, she was extremely determined not to give in to them. She often described herself as a "soldier.? She was actually a soldier of life! Her biggest "accomplishment? was finally getting her freedom, and being able to come and live with Toni and Giora in the community "like everybody else.?
Marilyn loved going out and doing things. She loved to feed the geese and the ducks at Ellis Park with her best friend and advocate, Giora, who she always referred to as "Pierre.? They went out every day for coffee or pop after he would pick her up from Milestones, and she adored her time with him. She loved music, and attended many community theatre productions, as well as performances at the high schools and area colleges. She enjoyed animals, especially dogs, and loved to go to pet stores or the Humane Society to see and pet them. Marilyn got to see the Disney On Ice two years in a row, and loved the show. She was familiar figure at her favorite place, The Lighthouse. Craig Wood and Dick Watson became her friends and recently played Happy Birthday to her while the patrons sang along. It was to be her last visit there and she danced with Giora "on the floor with all the lights? and people were moved and clapped when the music ended.
Marilyn made many friends who will miss her very much. She loved the time she spent at Milestones and she was extremely well taken care of by the staff there. She was especially attached to Audrey, Debbie, Becca and Nancy, (a.k.a. Miss Blackburn), as well as many others. Other dear friends who gave her so much of themselves are Sherry, Karen, Carol, Ivory, Mary Beth, Ronnie and Susan.
Marilyn spent much of the last year receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic. She was taken care of there by doctors and nurses with skill, compassion, patience and respect. The Netas and Marilyn are extremely grateful to her surgeon, Dr. Farnell, her oncologist, Dr. Grothey, and her radiologist, Dr. Haddock. She spent her last days at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, and was very fortunate again to have wonderful care by her doctors, Dr. Beckett, Dr. Wilharm, Dr. Doce, and the nursing staff.
A memorial fund is being established in her name at Milestones Adult Day Health Care in Cedar Rapids. Contributions may be sent in care of Audrey Reid.
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