Marilyn L. Sommer

Marilyn Lee (Zabriskie) Sommer, of Lake Grove, NY, passed away on August 20, 2026, at the age of 77. Marilyn lived a life filled with love, family, laughter, creativity, and countless memories. Her greatest legacy was not something she could hold in her hands, but the family she created and the love and memories she left with all of us.

Marilyn was the beloved mother of seven children: Karen Williams-Sommer (Jason), Ann Sommer-Schevis (Craig), John Williams (Jennifer), George Williams (Heather), Jody Sommer, Billie Jo Sommer (Bryan), and Robert Sommer. She was the cherished grandmother of seventeen grandchildren: Johnathan (Chyna), Samantha, Christopher (Kathy Ann), Jacquelyn, Jessica, Amanda, Elizabeth, Christina (Jackson), Cara, Kyle, Aiden, Emma, Isabel, Jacob, Damien, Sophia, and Christopher. She was also the proud great-grandmother of six: Tarek, Lucille, Virginia, Russell, Avison, and Grayson Walt.

Family was always at the heart of Marilyn's life and she had a way of turning ordinary moments into memories that will be treasured for years to come.

Marilyn was truly one of a kind. She loved shopping and finding treasures at yard sales, often coming home with something she simply had to have—or something she was certain someone else needed. She enjoyed ceramics, crafts, working in the yard, and taking on projects around the house. She was never afraid of a project, even if it meant knocking down an entire wall on a whim! She loved camping, spending time out on the boat, blasting her music, and dancing around the house.

And then there were her pranks. Marilyn loved playing tricks on her children and grandchildren and always knew how to keep everyone on their toes. Those moments may have seemed small at the time, but they are now among the memories that will bring smiles and laughter for years to come.

Marilyn also knew what it meant to love deeply. On April 15, 2025, she lost her husband and soulmate, Walter. She missed him tremendously, and the loss left an emptiness in her heart that could never be replaced. We take comfort in knowing that they are together again, reunited in heaven.

Marilyn is survived by her sisters, Barbara and Karen. She is reunited in peace with her parents, Vera Smith and Russell Zabriskie; her sisters, Janet, Violet, and Joanie; and her beloved granddaughter, Jackie.

Marilyn will be deeply missed—the conversations, her cooking, her music, her bluntness, her projects, and even the occasional arguments and disagreements. Most of all, her family will miss simply having her there. But a piece of Marilyn will live on in her family, in the traditions she helped create, and in the stories that will continue to be told for generations to come.

She gave her family more than memories. She gave them a lifetime of love, laughter, lessons, adventures, and a family to carry forward.

We may never be ready to say goodbye, but we can be grateful for the time we were given. Thank you, Mom, for loving us in your own way, for raising us the best you could, and for giving us a lifetime of memories.

Until we see you again, Mom, rest peacefully. Give Dad a gigantic hug for all of us. We love you!