Marilyn Dignan

To know Marilyn, you were touched by her extraordinary gift.  Her gift to understand you deeply with her compassion, her ability to feel at a deeper level.

Her strength and determination were undeniable.  There were no such words as “Give up” in her dictionary and she expected that from others through her words of encouragement.

Marilyn’s life was not measured by material possessions.  Yes, she always looked beautiful, and she would always say, “It’s important that your hair and your shoes look good”!

Instead, Marilyn filled her life with music.  She loved Jazz and the Blues.  You could see her out there on the dance floor dancing with out a care in the world.  Being silly and laughing.  She loved people, they loved her, and she loved life.

She found joy in traveling, that took her to extraordinary places.   There were cruises with her family to beautiful Islands, traveling the rainforest in Central America, Europe, India and Africa.  It was in Africa that she fell in love with the Elephants, no surprise there.  Marilyn was just like the Elephants trunk, she showered her positive energies of protection, love, loyalty and quit courage.

Marilyn graduated from Adelphi with her master’s in social work in 1994.  She later went on to expand her knowledge with many certificates, earning the title of Diplomate in Clinical Social Work, the highest level of credentialing available through the National Association of Social Workers, the largest professional social work organization in the world.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Walter Wagner.  She is survived by her daughter Alison Dignan, her son and daughter-in-law Edmund Dignan and Elaine, her most beloved grandson, Michael Dignan-Isola, her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and more friends than can be counted.

In lieu of flowers and in celebration if a life lived to its fullest, the family has requested that donations be made to: East End Hospice 481 Westhampton-Riverhead Road, PO Box 1048 Westhampton Beach, NY  11978.

Donate | East End Hospice (eeh.org)

Dear Mom,

I love you Mom and will miss you everyday until we walk along the water again one day at your condo in Florida.

Thank you to Susan and Sandra for taking such good care of my Mom and protecting her when she needed it the most. I will never be able to thank you enough for all you did for my Mom !!

Mom, thank you for never ever, not for one minute, giving up on me. Even after I had given up on myself. There is no doubt I would have left this Earth when I was young if not for my moms love & never give up attitude.

Thank you Mom for not letting me give up!

To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wildflower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour

-William Blake

With Love,

Your son Edmund