Marilyn Anne Scully-Potoczak, 76, passed into eternal life at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, MA on March 19, 2017 after a month-long illness. Born in Taunton, MA into the large and loving Scully Family on July 18, 1940, she was the sixth of eight children of the late Mary F. (Hogan) and Albert E. Scully. Marilyn attended the Taunton Public Schools and was a graduate of the class of 1958 from Taunton High School. After having three of her children, Marilyn found her passion when she began to attend the Licensed Practical Nurse program, from which she graduated first in her nursing class. After earning her LPN license, she proudly worked as a nurse at Morton Hospital in Taunton, MA, for many years, floating to different areas of the hospital before settling into her calling as an Emergency Room Nurse. She decided to further her education, and earned her Associates Degree in Nursing with honors through Bristol Community College in 1989, and earned her licensure as a Registered Nurse. She continued her career in Emergency Room nursing until her retirement in 2013 with 45 years of distinguished service to Morton Hospital. Caring for patients was a responsibility that she took immensely seriously, and she felt tremendous pride in her role as a caregiver.
Marilyn’s most cherished time was the time that she spent with her family. This began when she met the love of her life, Joseph Frederick Potoczak, in Martha’s Vineyard in July of 1959. They married on December 26, 1959 and enjoyed 57 years of married life together. She often referred to Fred as her “first husband”, which is but a small example of her keen sense of humor which she shared with everyone she came into contact. Together, Lyn and Fred raised their family which grew to include not only their four children but also their children’s spouses whom they love like their own children as well as eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Lyn will be missed by her sons Michael J. and his wife Marion (Dowd) of Beverly, MA, Steven D. and his wife Ann (Rynne) of Concord, NH, Daniel E. and his wife Christine (Graham) of Temecula, CA, and her daughter Jennifer L. Francisco and her husband, Raymond of Taunton, MA. “Grana Lyn” was particularly proud of her special relationship with each and every one of her grandchildren. They include: Michael Potoczak and his wife Maura (Lentz), Nicole Potoczak, Amanda Smith and her husband Jonathan, Alison Potoczak, Abigail Potoczak, Andrew Potoczak, Emily Potoczak, Margaret Francisco, Caroline Francisco, Matthew Francisco and Connor Francisco. She was the great grandmother of Madeline and Ryan Smith and Miles Potoczak. Her family will be forever grateful for her care and devotion, as well as the amazing example she set. This growing family will forever be a testament to all that Marilyn believed was important in life.
Marilyn’s seven siblings were extremely important to her, and each held a special place in her heart. She is survived by David D. Scully and his wife Wilma of East Taunton, MA, Virginia Davitt of Taunton, MA, Judith Kelley of Taunton, MA. Albert Scully and his wife Kathleen of Florida, Kathryn Wood of Taunton, MA, Mary Levesque and her husband Paul of Taunton, MA and Dennis Scully and his wife Kathleen of Middleboro, MA.
Marilyn was a member of the Morton Hospital Retirees and the Polish American Citizens Club. She was a communicant of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Taunton, MA. Along with her sister Judy, she worked as an extra on the movie, “Shutter Island”.
One of Marilyn’s most impressive qualities was the manner in which she selflessly gave to others. Be it to her family, to her patients, or to people that she found to be in need that she did not know, she unfailingly helped others in countless ways, always without question or fanfare. To honor her memory and to celebrate her desire to put the needs of others before her own, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Corline Cronan Family Inc. c/o Dr. Karen E. Reamsnyder 402 South Street East, Raynham, MA 02767.
Funeral from the O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington St., Taunton, MA 02780 on Saturday, March 25th at 9 am. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Andrew the Apostle Church on Kilmer Ave. in Taunton at 10 am. Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours on Friday from 5-8 pm. Burial will be in the family lot in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Taunton.