Marilyn Jean Kolar

Feb. 13, 1947 – May 30, 2026

Marilyn Jean Kolar, 79, lost her life to breast cancer after a valiant fight that spanned 38 years. She died in Vero Beach, FL at VNA Hospice House on May 30, 2026. Her initial cancer diagnosis was in 1988. After surgery and treatments, she lived a full life for the next 32 years until the return of metastatic breast cancer in December, 2020.

Born February 13, 1947, she was raised in Ithaca, New York where she was a graduate of Ithaca High School and Ithaca College. She married in 1968, moved to Toronto in June 1969, and later divorced. She was employed as a Project Manager by Imperial Oil of Canada (ESSO) for 21 years before returning to the US to Cortland, NY where she opened and ran Pheasant Hill Antiques for a short time until she returned to employment in her field of project management.

Marilyn worked for McKenzie/Childs in Aurora, NY as Project Manager during their expansion years for the original owners, Richard and Victoria McKenzie-Childs, and then for Pleasant Rowland who later took over and expanded further after a restructuring. Ultimately, Marilyn found her “home” at Croom Construction in Vero Beach in 2005 where she was employed until her death.

Marilyn loved to play golf and made many wonderful friends on the golf course. She truly enjoyed her summers at Cayuga Lake and travel which included many trips worldwide with her sisters…. from Australia and New Zealand, to Russia, the Greek Isles, Scandinavia, multiple trips to Africa and Europe, including annual trips over the last 20 years to Italy with her sisters to their Tuscan timeshare.

As result of her initial breast cancer diagnosis in 1988 and her mother’s death from breast cancer in 1989, Marilyn became a dedicated advocate of fundraising for breast cancer research. Every year for 22 years she participated in the Annual American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Campaign. With the very generous support of many friends and family members, she was very proud to achieve the High Individual Fundraiser Award for many of those years in her mother’s memory.

Marilyn will be remembered as a truly special individual, always with a sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was a loving daughter and sister, and a loyal friend with a strong and resilient spirit. She was persistent, faced life head-on and was determined to live her life her way, on her terms. She didn’t back down from a challenge and one of her many strengths was her ability to adapt when necessary, all throughout her life. She was a Roman Catholic parishioner at Holy Cross church in Vero Beach who believed in God and His everlasting grace.

She is pre-deceased by her mother, Rosell M.Kolar, and her father, Lawrence J. Kolar. She is survived by her sisters Margaret K. Liguori (Dan) and Louise K. Terry (Bill), niece Debbie Welch (Ron), nephew Michael Liguori (Ellis), great niece Maria Liguori, great nephews Mac Evans (Samantha), Hunter Evans, Cole Evans, Daniel Liguori, great-great niece Rooney Evans and great-great nephew W. Hondo Evans.

Her family wishes to acknowledge the years of wonderful support and ongoing treatment which she received from Dr. Michaela Scott and Dr. Daniela Shapiro at Vero Oncology, and Dr. Clint Yam at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. She traveled to Houston ,TX every 12 weeks for 5 ½ years for her care and regular appointments with Dr. Yam. They also want to thank the Treasure Coast VNA Hospice nurses and staff for their compassionate care for her final six weeks, and most especially on her final day. She died at Hospice House in Vero Beach on May 30, 2026, in the company of her sisters.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marilyn’s memory for Breast Cancer Research at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX or to the VNA & Hospice Foundation of Vero Beach to support the Hospice House in Vero Beach, FL.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10AM, Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 500 Iris Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32963.

Interment will be held at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in Ithaca,New York.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home.

An online guestbook is available at CoxGiffordSeawinds.com