Marilyn Patricia Adams (nee Callender) was born on January 18, 1947 to Octavia Jean-Jacques and Eric Callender, at the Port of Spain General Hospital on the beautiful island of Trinidad and Tobago. Among her full group of siblings she was the 11th child. She lost her mother at the tender age of six and was reared by her grandmother and eldest sister, with the faithful assistance of her father. At the age of five she spent a few days in the hospital in order to remove her tonsils. Her siblings recall feeling immense happiness when she returned from the hospital well and recovered from her ordeal.

She attended Rosehill Roman Catholic School, where she excelled. She was very bright, as the Principal of the school promoted her two classes ahead of her peers. This however, this placed her at a disadvantage as she was only ten years old and she would not be in the class to sit for the secondary school entrance exam, one had to be twelve years of age. During this time Marilyn was the “chief cook and bottle washer” on Saturdays, as her eldest sister worked on Saturdays and left Marilyn to cook for the household. This prepared her for what was to come.

Two to three years later, her father enrolled her into a private school, Ideal High School, where she received her secondary education. While she attended this school, she was able to foster a closer relationship with her father, step-mother and her other siblings. They would all have lunch together, then they return to her father’s home to do their homework after school. Then he would walk them back to her home on La Ressource Street. A distance of about 2-3 miles.

At the age of about 15, Marilyn acquired her first job and it entailed ironing clothes for an elderly neighbor using coal-pot irons, both her and younger sister, Yvonne worked late into the night and often into the early hours of the morning to complete this job, the clothes were often quite damp and that made it an even more challenging endeavor. She would get paid approximately 2cents -6 cents per item.

At the age at 18, Marilyn met and fell in love with Mr. Selwyn “Edwin” Adams. They courted each other for three years and married when they were both 21 years old on September 14, 1968. They welcomed their first child the following year., daughter Marla. They went on to have a total of seven amazing, beautiful children; each birth bringing joy to their lives. Her sister remembers Marilyn being an amazing, patient, young mother, particularly when her first three children were very young and her husband would be away at sea for extended periods of time. She had an amazing amount of strength and grace and was able to manage the household well while her husband was away. Marilyn lived with her in-laws for few years then the young couple moved into their own apartment in Mon Repos, Morvant in the city of Port of Spain. After about two years the couple purchased their home in Coconut Drive, Morvant. They lived there for 12 years, raising 6 of their 7 children. Marilyn was a full-time homemaker who was also an excellent cook. In fact, Selwyn commission the construction of a small shop where Marilyn could make and sell some of Trinidad’s finest cuisine, including a Trini favorite roti. Their two eldest children migrated to the Boston, MA in 1986, shortly after they graduated from secondary school in Trinidad.

As the economy in Trinidad & Tobago began experiencing the effects of the recession in 1988, Marilyn decided that this was a good time to join her daughters and she migrated herself and youngest child, Melissa to Boston, MA to reside with her sister, Jeannette. Marilyn carried another bundle of joy with her when she migrated, she was four months pregnant with last child, Karessa. The rest of her family moved to Boston, husband, middle daughter and her two sons in May of 1989. Her family was reunited on Mother’s Day. Karessa was 3 months old and the family was overjoyed to be with each other again after being apart.

After the children were raised, Marilyn focused on earning her GED, then decided on pursuing a career in nursing. In, 2003, she graduated from the Soldier’s Field Home School of Nursing in Chelsea, MA. She earned her License Practical Nursing degree, in an accelerated 10-month program and became a full-time and devoted nurse at the Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain. Marilyn fulfilled her life-long dream to become a nurse at the age of 56. She worked at Shattuck Hospital for 12 years and cared for her patients lovingly and tirelessly. Marilyn retired from her nursing position in 2015. After retiring, Marilyn caught the nursing bug again and joined the nursing team at the Laurel Ridge Nursing Home as a per diem nurse.

Marilyn was a faithful member of several churches, she attended Catholic church as a child and then attended a Pentecostal church in Morvant before her move to Boston. Once, in Boston she became a member Church of God of Prophecy in Mattapan for many years. She later joined Metropolitan Baptist Church where she was a member for 20 years, where she served a Deaconess for many years. Marilyn and her family then became members of Concord Baptist Church where she fellowshipped and served as a church nurse until her passing.

Marilyn had a flare for excitement, she was a very happy person who loved God and her family. She was very friendly and eager to help anyone. She was always thinking of ways to get her family together to enjoy each other’s company and serve God. A perfect day for Marilyn would be an all you can eat family prayer meeting, because she strongly believed that a family who prayers together, stays today. Marilyn was very generous towards her family and her generosity extended to strangers as well. Marilyn started and monthly outreached to the feed the homeless on Melnea Cass and Franklin Park. Marilyn provided her delicious sandwiches, made with love to these individuals and they looked forward to it.

Marilyn was very adventurous and travelled to several different countries including, Israel, Egypt, Nigeria and England. She loved life and celebrated every occasion, birthday, holiday, her favorite was Christmas and where she enjoyed cooking for her family and her family enjoyed eating her amazing dishes.

Marilyn leaves behind her loving husband, Selwyn M. Adams, they enjoyed 54½ years as a married couple. Marilyn leaves to cherish her memory her 7 wonderful children: Marla Adams-McRae, Trudy Dickens, Richard Adams, Tricia DePina, Roger Adams, Melissa Downes, Karessa Adams. Grandchildren: Mickaila McRae, Michelle McRae, Michael McRae, Diana Dickens, Maya McRae & Lucas DePina. Siblings Jeanette Adams, Yvonne Joseph, Edrick Callender, Wayne Callender, Dawn Callender, Lovern Callender, Joselyn Callender, Hugh Callender. Marilyn was preceded in death by her late parents, Octavia Jean-Jacques and Eric Callender; her late sisters Sylvia Moseley, Claire Idowu and brother Lennox Jean-Jacques. Marilyn also leaves behind a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation at Concord Baptist Church, 180 Blue Hill Avenue, Milton, Friday August 18 from 10:00 am to 11:15 am. Funeral Service at the church at 11:15 am. Interment Forest Hills Cemetery.