of Chelsea, Michigan, age 90, passed away Saturday, December 26, 2020 at Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born January 9, 1930 at home in Detroit, Michigan the daughter of Earl A. & Carrie L. (Durham) Rice.
Marilyn graduated from Cooley High School in Detroit and attended Michigan State University and worked as a secretary in the Alumni Office. It was there that she met her future husband William “Bill” Chandler.
On March 14, 1953, she and Bill were married in the Alumni Chapel at MSU. They moved to Chelsea in 1954 where Bill went to work for Marilyn’s father at the Detroit Abrasives Company. Marilyn was a charter member of the original Chelsea Co-op Nursery School that eventually converted the old Beach one room school into a co-op nursery school complete with a blue front door with white polka dots. She was a member of the Chelsea Child Study Club, Nomads Travel Group and volunteered in the Chelsea Hospital gift shop for many years. Marilyn was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed sewing, beading and made beautiful quilts.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years Bill, and their three daughters Cindy (Richard) Westfall of Rochester, NY, Mary Beth Chandler of Littleton, CO, Carolyn (Nick) Roopas of Ann Arbor, five grandchildren, Alyssa, Emily, Alex and Evan Roopas, Kathryn (Patrick) Westgrove and one great-grandchild Adelaide Rose Westgrove.
Due to Covid, a private graveside service will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery, Chelsea. An in-person memorial will be held in the Summer of 2021. Memorial contributions may be made to The Barn Sanctuary, 20179 McKernan Dr., Chelsea, MI 48118. Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel.
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