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Marilyn Elizabeth Cadman

Date of Death: January 14, 2024

Date of Birth: September 30, 1936

Biography:

Marilyn E. (Hurley) Cadman

LEWISTON — Heaven gained a special angel when Marilyn Elizabeth "Tootsie" (Hurley) Cadman, 87, passed away at home on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, surrounded by her family.

Throughout her life, Marilyn was a loving, supportive and encouraging daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

Born in Lewiston on Sept. 30, 1936, she was the fourth and youngest child of Charles E. and Marjorie (Demers) Hurley. She grew up in Auburn, where she graduated from Edward Little High School in 1954, and was chairperson of her class reunion committee, keeping track of classmates and planning reunions for 70 years.

Marilyn married her high school sweetheart, Gary L. Cadman, in 1958 and they settled in Lewiston to raise a family. She was a proud and supportive mother to Brenda Cadman Hanks, a social worker and travel agent, and David Cadman, a building contractor.

In addition to being a homemaker, Marilyn enjoyed teaching in Lewiston public schools, first as a substitute teacher who had many long-term assignments, and later as an education technician who worked with special education students. She also was a financial adviser with People's Benefit Life Insurance, a Census taker and a poll worker.

She was a devout member of the former St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, where she taught religion classes, served as a Eucharistic minister and was a member of the Holy Rosary Sodality. She also sang in the church choir for many years, traveling to perform in Canada, Greece, Japan and Italy, where she sang for Pope Paul VI.

Marilyn loved to travel, including recent trips to Alaska, Hawaii and Mississippi. For 15 years she and her husband spent winters on the road in their RV, visiting family and friends and exploring national parks, museums and other places of interest across the United States. They spent every summer on Hurley's Island in Winthrop, entertaining family and friends at their camp on Upper Narrows Pond.

She was a longtime member and a leader of the local chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International, where she enjoyed spending time with her sorority sisters, learning about new things and helping people in need.

Marilyn also enjoyed kayaking, community theater, bean suppers, church fairs, finding bargains at Marden's, watching General Hospital, going on day trips, playing games, doing puzzles and celebrating holidays. She lit up whenever her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited.

Marilyn truly believed "the more the merrier" and found joy in most everything she did. Despite debilitating illnesses, she woke every morning with a smile on her face, happy to be living another day. She was an inspiration to many, always seeing the good in people and expressing her gratitude to those fortunate enough to call her friend.

Marilyn is survived by her husband of 66 years; daughter, Brenda Cadman Hanks and husband Doug Hanks of South Portland; son, David Cadman and wife Shannon Cadman of Greene; sister, Barbara Bouchard of Lewiston; brother, Patrick Hurley and wife Janet Hurley of Derry, N.H.; grandchildren, Amber Marin, Hillary Lacombe, Christopher Hanks and Alex Hanks; great-grandchildren, Parker, Rhegan, Weston, Orson, Alden, Rozzie and Myah; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and brother, Robert Hurley and wife Therese Hurley.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Thursday, Jan. 25, from 4-6 p.m. at Funeral Alternatives, 25 Tampa St., Lewiston; and to her funeral Mass on Friday, Jan. 26, at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus St., Lewiston.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Marilyn's honor to Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice https://androscoggin.org

or Seniors Plus https://seniorsplus.org