Marilyn Ann Hirsh

Marilyn Ann (Kinsley) Hirsh
3/2/1938 – 7/4/2025

Marilyn Ann (Kinsley) Hirsh passed away suddenly, but peacefully, on July 4, 2025, in Tacoma, WA at the age of 87.

She was born on March 2, 1938, in Deadwood, SD. During her early childhood on the promise of steady work for her father, Marilyn's family loaded all their possessions in their car and headed west from their farm in Deadwood to Tacoma, WA. She attended Holy Rosary Elementary School and completed middle school at Sacred Heart.

Marilyn graduated in 1956 from St. Leo’s High School in Tacoma. She loved to dance and worked as an operator at Bell System until she wed Robert (Bob) Hirsh on January 28, 1961, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tacoma. Their whirlwind romance began one fateful night in 1960 at the USO dance hall at Fort Lewis Army Base on Bob’s 21st birthday.

While staying home to raise their four daughters, Marilyn nurtured their faith and volunteered at St. Ann’s Catholic School in Tacoma where the girls attended. After the family moved to University Place, Marilyn lovingly babysat children of local schoolteachers who became like extended family members over the years.

As their youngest daughter prepared to leave for college in 1986, Marilyn returned to the workforce as an office administrator at Park Rose Care Center in Tacoma before joining the staff of Pierce College on McNeil Island as an office administrator where she worked for over a decade before retiring in 2000.

Retirement began with a move from University Place to a new home in the Park Place neighborhood in Tacoma’s North End. Marilyn and Bob made many cross-country road trips to visit family and friends from MT to SD to IN to MI.

They were decades-long parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish in Tacoma, attending Sunday and daily Mass. Marilyn and Bob also spent many Friday evenings in prayer during Holy Hour Adoration.

Marilyn and Bob generously volunteered their time in the kitchen of St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School for 8+ years while their granddaughter was enrolled at the school. They were also Eucharistic Ministers for the church for over a decade, serving Catholic residents at Eliseo (formerly Tacoma Lutheran Home) with weekly communion service. Marilyn was also a devoted member of the Legion of Mary and a dedicated supporter of the Right To Life Movement, praying for the unborn and donating resources to pregnant women in need.

After Marilyn’s right hip fracture in September 2023, she recovered at Eliseo’s Rehab wing with nurturing from the loving care team. Soon after, Marilyn and Bob moved to Eliseo’s Assisted Living Apartments where the dedicated staff took amazing care of them.

When Bob transitioned to Eliseo’s Memory Care shortly after their 64th wedding anniversary in January 2025, Marilyn remained in their apartment until a fall on July 3rd fractured her left hip. She was rushed to St. Joseph Medical Center for surgery, but sadly did not survive the procedure. It brings us comfort that she received her last rites and was surrounded by her daughters and extended family until her last breath.

Marilyn is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Robert (Bob) Hirsh of Tacoma, WA. Their four daughters: Julie (Randy) Black of Rochester, WA; Lori (Mike) Daniels of Parkland, WA; Vicki (Ray) Johnson of Ruston, WA; and Karen (Dave) Downard of Paw Paw, MI. Eight grandchildren: Derek (Heidi) Black, Lauren (Brandon) Cole, Ashley (Zack) Sharp, Tyler Daniels (Eric Duquette), Katy, Ali and Max Downard and Taylor Johnson. Four great grandchildren with the fifth due October 2025.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ronald and Frances Kinsley and her four siblings: Keith Kinsley, Pat Kinsley, Marian “Mavis” Branham and Paul Kinsley.

Her funeral will be held on Monday August 11, 2025, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish Church, 7112 S. 12th Street, Tacoma, WA. The Rosary will begin at 10:15 am and the funeral Mass will begin at 11:00 am. A luncheon will follow in the St. Charles Feist Hall.

For loved ones who cannot attend in person, please join us via livestream:

https://www.youtube.com/live/l2WavpnYVvc

https://www.facebook.com/events/1453794865648036

A heartfelt THANK YOU to the Eliseo care team from Rehab to Assisted Living who provided loving care to our dear mother Marilyn!

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to:

St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School

7112 South 12th Street

Tacoma, WA 98465

OR donate at https://stcharlesb.ejoinme.org/donate

Our Lady of Guadalupe Maternity Center

5705 Main St SW

Lakewood, WA 98499

Our Lady of Guadalupe Maternity Center's purpose is to provide spiritual and material help to mothers, pregnant women and their young children (infant to age eight). St. Charles Borromeo Parish provides weekly donations, a baby shower in the fall and volunteers to help run the center.