Marilyn Martin

NAPLES, Fla. - On Wednesday, March 17, 2021, we lost our dear mother, grandmother and friend of many - Marilyn Martin. She was born Marilyn Jacobson in Bessemer, Michigan, on March 16, 1932, to Art and Edith Jacobson. Her final resting place will be in Bessemer.

Marilyn was 89 years old and died peacefully in the early evening the day after her 89th birthday from natural causes in Naples.

Marilyn had entered hospice four days earlier and when asked, hospice was advised, "We have plans on Tuesday" and Mom stayed with us for her birthday with visits from her son Jeff Schwede of Medinah, Illinois, and Holly Jacobson of Bessemer. Collected were some 23 voicemails from friends sharing a special memory and birthday wish to share with Mom on the 16th and 17th of March. Most everyone had a chance to speak, saying what they have missed saying before, and this brought great comfort and joy to my mother in her last two days with us.

Marilyn, who was married to Robert J. Schwede, had two sons, Jeff and Greg. Jeff Schwede later married Anne DiMarco, and had two daughters, Lauren and Kailyn.

Marilyn moved to Chicago, married and raised her sons while working for M&M Mars Company of Oak Park, Illinois. Marilyn was both a loving mother, grandmother and community contributor in Chicago and Naples. Marilyn and Robert ran a community council football program on the northwest side of Chicago from 1965-1972, providing sport and team-building for the local youth.

When asked, she would say Naples provides some of my best memories. Mom most recently was a volunteer for the local police making wellness checks on a number of elders in the community, volunteered for Naples Hospice, Youth Haven and with reading programs for the schools, and was ordained as a Stephen Minister over 20 of her 37 years in Naples. Friend to all!

Mom held close her years spent in Bessemer and her roots there, as she traveled to Sweden researching those family roots.

Mom loved to bake and cook, often weekly gifting baked pies, cardamon coffee cakes and homemade cookies to neighbors. She was a gift to all those that met her.

Mom's travels with family in the early years were to numerous American history sites for a week, balanced with the second week spent in Florida annually. Later travels included South America, China,  Africa safari, Honk Kong, Singapore, London, Spain, Portugal, Russia and Sweden. Marilyn traveled to Thailand and has a picture riding an elephant on her 70th birthday. The five trips to Sweden put Marilyn in close touch with our descendants and the homeland that embraced her friendship and kindness.

We have all been very fortunate to have shared in the gifts and time you've spent with us here on earth, and benefited greatly through your kindness. Your work for mankind will continue through our works and endure. When asked a week prior of Mom crossing over, she spoke, "Another greatest memory was my birth."

Let's hope and pray that we all celebrate and live a full life, sharing and engaging those we encounter with love and caring. You'll be missed.