Read Margaret "Marilyn" M. Avruskin's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Margaret "Marilyn" M. Avruskin

Portland, OR

1938 - December 13, 2020

1938 - Dec 13, 2020

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On December 13, 2020, Margaret Marilyn Avruskin, loving wife and mother extraordinaire, passed away from cancer at the age of 82 in the comfort of her Oregon home, surrounded by her adoring family.
Born in 1938 in Montreal, Quebec, Marilyn (nee Haslam) grew up in McMasterville and loved adventuring in Ile Bizard, the Thousand Islands, and PEI. As a child she loved lake swimming, nature and time spent with cousins and grandparents. She made lifelong friendships while attending St. Helen's School in Dunham as a teen and during her training at Montreal General Hospital, where she received her nursing degree in 1959. Employed there, she met the dear love of her life, endocrinologist Dr. Theodore AvRuskin, and they were married in 1962 by Rabbi Stern of Montreal who was proud to officiate at one of his first interreligious couple ceremonies. Soon after, Marilyn spent two years studying, then converting, to Judaism, with steadfast lifelong commitment to its beautiful customs and traditions. Marilyn and Ted immigrated to the United States in 1964 and lived in Boston, MA where they had 3 daughters before settling in Rockville Centre, NY. There, Marilyn carved out a life of dedication to helping others. Besides no-nonsense yet tender mothering of her daughters, she worked as a nurse at South Nassau Hospital and Dr. Paul Cooperman's Franklin Immediate Medical Care, and she was heavily involved in volunteering for the Girl Scouts, both as a troop leader for decades then county treasurer. She guided scouts in the arts of primitive camping and survival skills as well as instilling a sense of societal responsibility through visits to group and senior homes plus numerous community improvement projects. Always up for a hike in the woods, Marilyn adored gardening, bird watching, and traveling the world over with her husband. At the time of life when most retire she took on running Ted's private medical practice, although they left early on Fridays to hit the ballroom dancing scene and enjoyed many years of performing in ballroom competitions. She kept her plant window decorated with a collection of seashells from Jones Beach and Aruba. A doting grandmother, she always kept the cookie tin full, cross stitched personalized blankets, and created storybooks in poem format for her grandchildren. Her strong spirit, unflagging organizational skills, practical wisdom and realist perspective are remembered by all she knew. Our world is paler with her gone, but we know what Marilyn would say... "Keep Smiling!" Marilyn is survived by her husband of 58 years, Ted; daughters Tara, Andrea and Carla; and grandchildren Max, Westin and Parker. Memorial is on hold due to pandemic. To best honor Marilyn, mask up and go hiking! In lieu of flowers, donations are directed to The Audubon Society.

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