Marilyn J. Sargent

Marilyn J. Sargent (nee Boyle), age 95, of New Lenox, and widow of Richard (Dick) Sargent joined her beloved husband in heaven on Monday, January 5, 2026. Marilyn passed away at St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville, IL. Marilyn is survived by her four children: Scott (Jeanne) Sargent, Anne (John) Helander, Nancy (Mark Rush ) Gustin, and Brad (Michelle) Sargent, fourteen grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and sister, Catherine Martin. She was preceded in death by her parents Clement and Marie (Phillips) Boyle, brothers Fr. John Boyle, Daniel Boyle, Richard Boyle, and grandson Daniel Calhoun.

Born and raised in Iowa City, Iowa, Marilyn was a lifetime member of Hawkeye Nation. After a few years at the University of Iowa, where she was a proud sister of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Marilyn set out to Denver, Colorado to find her fortune. It was there that she met her life and soul mate, the handsome “fly boy,” Dick. After a whirlwind, head-over-heels courtship, Dick and Marilyn were married and started building a family. Marilyn was immensely proud of her four children and the family she built and nurtured, taking her greatest pride in the 71 amazing years of marriage to Dick. She switched seamlessly from homemaker to realtor to social maven, thoroughly enjoying nights out with their large circle of friends, especially the contract bridge parties they attended and hosted on a regular basis.

A devout lifelong Catholic, Marilyn’s faith and devotion to her church was a constant throughout her life. When Dick’s career took the family to new locations, Marilyn immersed herself and the kids in the local church, providing quick friendships and a spiritual (and social) home base.

As empty nesters, Dick and Marilyn enjoyed world travel, golfing, and seeing places they had dreamed of as Great Depression era children. Being 100% Irish-American, she particularly loved their trips to the Emerald Isle and sharing details of their latest adventures. When grandchildren entered her life, Marilyn was always eager to sit down and dish with them about the latest “family news.” After she and Dick settled in New Lenox, they were regular attendees at grandkids’ athletic, church, and scholastic events. Even in her last days, Marilyn retained a remarkable recall of grandkids’ and great-grandkids’ birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and other major life events.

Marilyn’s passions in life included her beloved Hawkeyes, clothes and shoe shopping (Chico’s and DSW among her faves), the Young and the Restless, which was referred to for decades as “her show,” Shark Tank, the Cubs, the Chicago Tribune, “pink and white nails” and catching up with family and friends on the phone.

Services will be held on June 6, 2026, starting with a family-only graveside service at 9am, followed by a 10am public funeral mass at St. Jude Catholic Church, 241 West Second Avenue, New Lenox, IL. A luncheon will follow at Gatto’s in New Lenox. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests donations to the Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet.