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CANFIELD -- Marilyn Chiu of Canfield passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at the age of 84.
She was born Marilyn Hull on Aug. 17, 1942, to Myrtle and Elmer Hull, at Salem City Hospital.
After graduating from Fairfield Waterford High School in 1960, she attended the Youngstown Hospital Association School of Nursing, graduating in 1963.
Marilyn started her lifelong devotion of helping others as a floor nurse at the old North Side Hospital in Youngstown, where she met her husband, Dr. Y.T. Chiu. They married March 14, 1964, and spent 62 years building and growing the family they both cherished above all else.
After having her four children, she returned to school to get her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Youngstown State University, one class at a time, while being a devoted mother and running her kids around to their various activities.
Notably, for years, she was also a Girl Scout troop leader for a troop of nearly 50 girls and delighted in taking them camping and creek walking. She completed her BSN in 1984 and then earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Kent State University with a specialty in psychiatric nursing.
She spent the next several years as the director of the extended care unit at Woodside Receiving Hospital in Youngstown. Marilyn finished her working career as a counselor for individuals, families, and for those who suffered with AIDS and addiction.
She spent her well-earned retirement volunteering her time through multiple organizations, her favorite being the Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Park, where she became one of their Master Gardeners.
Throughout her life she maintained a devoted faith and was a committed member of Zion Lutheran Church in Youngstown.
Marilyn was stubborn, sarcastic, defensive, and demanding. She was also entirely non-judgmental, solidly reliable, competent, capable, and brave. She didn't seem to notice if someone was too weird, too troubled, too loud or too different -- she liked people even more if other people didn't. If you needed help, she was there. If you needed a laugh and a drink, she was definitely there.
She and her husband traveled all over the world having adventures and eating exotic foods; together they visited every continent. She was game for anything except exercise, which she loathed. She was a pretty bad cook who became a pretty good cook once she stopped hating cooking. She had a hard time expressing love but was an inveterate gift giver, so we knew what she meant. Marilyn was also a quintessential dog person and had many dogs over the years who were very lucky to enjoy her love and attention. It was often remarked that it would be a great reward to return to another life as one of her dogs. Throughout her life, Marilyn's greatest joy was her family (and her dogs).
She is survived by her husband, Y.T. Chiu; her four children, Kevin (Lynn) Chiu, Karen Chiu, Katherine Giunta and Kimberly (Dennis) Rory; eight beloved grandchildren, Alexander (Cali) Chiu, Allyson Chiu, Trey (Regan) Giunta, Riley (Ahmed) Chiu-ElKhafif, Richard Furman, Taylor Giunta, Patrick Furman, Katelyn Chiu; and her great-grandson, Rory Giunta. She is also survived by two sisters, Dorothy Merreot and Dolores Whittington; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Hull, and her sister, Doris Ogle.
The family would like to thank First Light Home Care and the caregivers who took such loving care of Marilyn, especially Alice and Carmen.
Calling hours will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Zion Lutheran Church, 3300 Canfield Road, Youngstown, OH 44511, immediately followed by a memorial service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Zion Lutheran Church or to the Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens in Youngstown so her memory may bloom through the flowers she loved so dearly.
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