Marilyn L. (Siltanen) Struzik

Marilyn Laura Struzik née Siltanen, age 85, of Oxford, PA, passed away
February 17, 2025.  She is survived by her two children, Tom Struzik
(wife Jeni Rathbun) of Houston, Texas, and Lorie Struzik (husband Eric
Van Voorhees) of Landenberg, PA and three amazing grandchildren,
Savannah Struzik (Houston), Kyra Van Voorhees and Jake Van Voorhees
(Landenberg).

Marilyn was born on May 1st, 1939 to Matias Nillo Kantokoski and Laura
née Siltanen in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.  Upon the passing of her
mother Laura in 1945, Marilyn went to live with her Aunt and Uncle,
Anna and William Siltanen in Chicago, IL, USA.  After graduating from
Thornton Township High School in Dolton, IL she went to work for
Illinois Bell Telephone Company as a sales representative.  While
working there Marilyn met fellow employee Robert Struzik and they
married in 1960.

After the birth of her children, Marilyn spent many years working in
various school systems, first as an elementary school librarian, then
as a nursery school teacher.  She campaigned and was elected to the
local school board and was an officer in the athletics booster club.

Moving to New Jersey in 1985, Marilyn decided to go back to school to
earn a BA in Early Childhood Education / English from William Paterson
College so that she could obtain a teaching certificate.  She taught
kindergarten through 2nd grade at Netcong Elementary in Netcong, NJ
and in 2005 earned their Teacher of the Year award.

After retiring from teaching, Marilyn and Bob moved to Ware
Presbyterian Village, in Oxford, PA where she continued an active
lifestyle.  She expressed her inner librarian by helping to manage the
local Little Free Library.  She was also active in the Ware photo club
and the Auxiliary.

Marilyn and her family spent every summer in Canada at their cottage
on Lake Superior.  Marilyn enjoyed spending time on their boat either
fishing or just watching the sunset over the lake.  She loved watching
the birds there, be they loons, bald eagles, woodpeckers, and herons
or any bird singing a song in the trees.  The best days ended with
S’mores around the campfire.

Services will be held at Ware Presbyterian Village,Oxford, PA on March
13th.  An additional remembrance gathering will be held at Horseshoe
Bay, Canada in July.   To honor Marilyn, since she was always a book
lover, you are welcome to make a donation to the Oxford public library
( www.oxfordpubliclibrary.org/support ) or your own local Little Free
Library.  “Take a book, leave a book.”

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