Death of Marilyn June Babienco

Marilyn June (Becraft) Babienco was born June 15, 1932, in Portland, Oregon, and peacefully went to sleep in Jesus on Dec. 3, 2022, in Niles, Michigan, at age 90.

Services will be at Pioneer Memorial Church at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. Arrangements are coordinated by Allred Funeral Home. Messages and memories may be shared online at www.allredfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Pioneer Memorial Church Children’s Sabbath School departments.

Marilyn was the youngest of the five children of Virgil and Verda (Burg) Becraft. Marilyn graduated from San Diego Union Academy and La Sierra College and obtained her Registered Nurse Diploma from Glendale Sanitarium and Hospital School of Nursing. Shortly after graduation, on Oct. 2, 1955, she said “I Do” to Bruce Babienco and remained faithfully married for 67 years.

Marilyn genuinely thrived on caring for and serving others as a Registered Nurse in family practice, newborn nursery, and nephrology settings. As a pastor’s wife, she shared her musical talents playing piano for Sabbath School classes, church services, soloists, camp meeting classes and most recently in the PMC Kindergarten Sabbath School.

Her husband Bruce had pastorates in East Oakland, Redding, Red Bluff, Alturas, Fall River Mills, Fortuna, and Pleasant Hill, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Detroit, Lansing, and Flint, Michigan.

Bruce and Marilyn retired to the Berrien Springs area in 2002. Marilyn loved to share her cooking talents at many Sabbath and holiday meals as well as cooking schools. Marilyn demonstrated her leadership talents leading out in Women’s Ministries at the First Flint SDA Church and blessed countless newborn babies with knitted baby afghans, booties and hats. Marilyn loved attending women’s conferences and was a voracious reader, often excitedly sharing her best, most recent findings with others. On Saturday nights or holidays, Marilyn could often be found fiercely competing in games of Scrabble or Upwards or patiently piecing together a jigsaw puzzle.

Marilyn loved her children and grandchildren. Later in life, Marilyn succumbed to the insidious waning brought on by Alzheimer’s disease and yet loved to ask “What can I do for you?” to friends and family she encountered.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her brothers: Virgil James, Robert, and David Theodore; and is survived by her sister, Margaret Gadreault. Marilyn is also survived by her husband, Bruce; daughter, Kathy (Fred) Babienco; son, Steve (Lynell) Babienco; daughter, Cyndi (Eduin) Caballero; “adopted” daughter, Nancy (Daniel) Garcia; grandchildren: Elizabeth Asher, Jennifer (Travis) Pierce, Michael Dowling, Ryan (Brianna) Babienco, Michael (Caitlyn) Babienco, Kristin Babienco, Zoey Caballero, Lissa Caballero; and seven great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express much thanks to the staff of Woodland Terrace and the staff of Caring Circle for their tender care of Marilyn.

Marilyn lived a life of love and service to others, through whom she will continue to live and bless others.