Marilyn L. Strathearn Athoe

Marilyn L. Strathearn Athoe, 86, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2018, at the Premier Genesee Nursing Home in Batavia, NY.   She was born July 31, 1931, in Buffalo, NY, to the late George and Vera (Handyside) Strathearn.  Later her family moved to Wyoming, NY, where her father ran W. G. Handyside’s Hardware.  She graduated from Bryant and Stratton College in Buffalo where she met her future husband, Harold W. Athoe, II, who she married on September 6, 1952.  Together they resided for over 40 years on Lewiston Road in Batavia, NY. 

Marilyn will be remembered for her sweet and gentle nature.  She was a loving and devoted wife and stay-at-home mother to her six children.   She enjoyed sewing, gardening and baking.  Once her children were grown, Marilyn worked part time at Joann Fabrics and J. C. Penneys.   She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Batavia. 

Surviving are her husband of over 65 years, Harold W. Athoe, II, and five children, Daniel (Debra) Athoe of Oakfield, John (Vicki) Athoe of Batavia, Peter Athoe, Elizabeth “Liz” (Richard) Farmer of Alexander and Paul (Donna Yasses) Athoe of Batavia; 14 grandchildren, Timothy (Hope) DeMay, Philip (Crystal) DeMay, Jonathan (Vanria) DeMay, Elizabeth DeMay, Amanda (Ben) Macdonald, Kristen (Aaron) Crawford, Jeffrey (Jennifer) Athoe, Joshua Athoe, Andrew (Kasia) Athoe, Meagan Athoe, Rebecca Athoe, Whitney Athoe, James Farmer and Nicholas Athoe; 15 great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Judah, Jaimin, Ashton, Maleah, Liam, Madalyn, Luke, Elena, Blakely, Carina, Hamilton, Blaine, Lillian and Brooklyn.  Also surviving are sisters-in-law Alicia Strathearn of Wyoming, Wilma Meyer and Gloria Allein of Batavia and many nieces and nephews.   She will be sadly missed by her lifelong friend, Janet Paine of Batavia. 

Marilyn was preceded in death by her daughter, Deborah DeMay, who passed away January 11, 2018; daughter-in-law Laura Athoe; brothers Wilbur “Bud” Lennington and Laverne Strathearn; sisters-in-law Eleanor Lennington and Janet Briggs and brothers-in-law Don Meyer and Fred Allein. 

Family and friends are cordially invited to share thoughts, condolences and fond memories on Friday (February 23rd) from 11am-1pm at the J. LEONARD MCANDREW FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 2 Bogue Ave., Batavia, NY, where funeral services will follow at 1pm. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 31 Washington Ave., Batavia, NY. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at: www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net. 

ARRANGEMENTS WERE ENTRUSTED TO THE J. LEONARD MCANDREW FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 2 BOGUE AVE., BATAVIA, NY 14020. RONALD KONIECZNY II, DIRECTOR.