Age 99, of Naples, Florida, peacefully fell asleep in death at home on February 4, 2023, surrounded by her family. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1923, to Olive (Villiers) and Walter Love of Kahala, she was the last surviving grandchild of Robert and Fannie Love, the founding family of Love's Bakery. A widow for 42 years, Marian is survived by her 5 children; sons: Luke (wife Gail), Bill (wife Tracey), and Michael; daughters Debbie, and Shelley Holloway (husband Christopher); 6 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.
An alumnus of Punahou School in Honolulu, Marian's 1940 yearbook wrote of her, "Marian has filled the rooms with her high-pitched laughter . . . In spite of her blue eyes, dimples and agile eyebrows, she can be serious, but not for long as her many friends know." She attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA until WWII brought her back to Honolulu, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Upon returning, she served as the secretary to the president of Dole Pineapple.
Marian met the love of her life, Robert E. Williams USN, in Honolulu, and they married in 1949. She was the epitome of what a naval officer's wife needed to be. Supportive, stoic, independent, organized, dedicated, creative, unflappable, and a gracious hostess, all the while embracing the primary responsibility of raising their five children, moving her brood to follow her husband to California, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, and as far away as Taiwan. Somehow, she found the time to share her beautiful singing voice in the Newport Navy Choristers and her compassionate nature as an American Red Cross Gray Lady.
Moving back to Virginia in 1972 after her husband's retirement, they enjoyed sailing the Caribbean, visits to Hawaii, and watching their children enter adulthood, until his death in 1981. Though the loss of her soulmate was devastating, Marian carried on with her life and lived it to the fullest, her focus always on her family.
In 1994, Marian returned to her home state of Hawaii where she lived until 2014. During those 20 years, she was a devoted, participating member of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, in Kailua. She was a frequent lay reader and active with the altar guild. She lent her lovely voice, diction, enunciation, and animated reading style to the likes of The Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Honolulu, reading headline news during radio broadcasts and recording audio books. She was also an active member of Daughters of Hawaii.
Though Marian lived life fully, capably, and gracefully, her humility kept her from seeing the impact she had on the lives of others. Her family sees it clearly. She was the most amazing and best mother EVER, somehow surviving the antics and mischief of her 5 children—especially during her husband's many deployments. Her grands and great grands all felt her love and benefited from her wisdom and life lessons, always infusing her love of Hawaii and her aloha spirit. And all who knew her thank "Marian the Grammarian" for their understanding and appreciation of the English language! She led by example in all aspects of her life.
Marian never let even the smallest gesture of kindness toward her slip by without expressing her gratitude. No matter the gesture, she would look you in the eye and say thank you, expressed with the sweetest, sincerest smile ever.
Those who knew Marian and are now mourning her passing remember her warm and sunny presence and describe her with words like beautiful, graceful, gracious, joyful, fun-loving, energetic, lively, cool, strong, smart, and witty, and they all remember her incredible blue eyes, lilting laughter, warm hugs, and what an amazing role model and inspiration she was.
Marian was nothing if not adventurous. She picked up golf at the age of 65 and played it passionately well into her 90s. In 1999, she represented the State of Hawaii in golf at the National Senior Games Senior Olympics in Florida. From sailing adventures throughout the Mediterranean and Adriatic with her daughter Debbie—where she climbed the rigging of a clipper ship at 85 years of age—to hiking the lava fields on the Big Island, to walking the hills of Ireland and the streets of Europe, Marian was always up for anything. Behind the scenes, she was stoic, strong, exceedingly private, and humble despite all of her amazing and wonderful qualities. Gentle and loving to all. Kind in thought, word, and deed.
Marian lit up every room she entered, sharing her smile, her wit, her boundless energy, and her charm. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched. Her family wishes her aloha on her journey to the peaceful, beautiful, and everlasting paradise.
In keeping with her wishes, she was cremated and there will not be a service.
She never did like a fuss!
For those wishing to make a donation in honor of her, the family suggests
Daughters of Hawaii, 2913 Pali Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817
daughtersofhawaii.org
