Marilynn M. Jewell

Marilynn Miller Jewell, aged 94, passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Marilynn was born to George and Herma Miller on October 16, 1927, in Jackson, Michigan. At the age of ten she moved with her family to Erie, Pennsylvania. She attended Strong Vincent High School, graduating early, as salutatorian, at age sixteen. She attended Mercyhurst College under a full scholarship, where she graduated, as valedictorian, with a major in German, and minors in English, Latin, Spanish, and Chemistry. After teaching Spanish, Latin, German, and English at the High School level, Marilynn was offered a position at Mercyhurst College, teaching German, English, and Latin. In 1981 she took a sabbatical to earn a PhD from University of Michigan in Higher Education. She remained at Mercyhurst College for the remainder of her career, retiring as full Professor in 1993 at age sixty-five.

Marilynn married Ken in 1948, with whom she had four children. She is survived by three of their children: Christine Jewell and her husband, William Abbott; Raymond Jewell and his wife, Donatella; William Jewell and his wife Carol; and Rosemary Jewell, widow of Marilynn’s son Kenneth R. Jewell, who predeceased her —eight grandchildren: Mitchell Jewell, his wife Victoria, and their child Isabel; Douglas Jewell; Martin Lochner, his wife Renee, and their children Clover and Forrest; Samuel Lochner, his wife Brandy, and their child Charlie; Kevin Jewell; Kendra Jewell Knight, her husband Graham Knight, and their child Rhea; Laura Jewell Novack, her husband Douglas Novack, and their children Madison and Lucas; Carley Jewell, her husband Ben Bouman, and their child Bennett. 

Marilynn loved learning—learning everything—and devoted her life to learning and teaching. She  was very dedicated to her students, and was much loved and respected by them. She especially enjoyed leading many Educational Tours to Europe, where she would teach her students about the history, culture, and languages of many European countries. She also led a group of fellow professors on an educational trip to Egypt, where she very much enjoyed learning and teaching about Egyptian culture and history. Marilynn was keenly interested in other cultures and countries her whole life, and was a curious and adventurous traveler in Europe and Asia.

Even with her full life teaching and learning, Marilynn was a devoted and caring mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be remembered for her guidance, support, her love for family and our many collie dogs, her wisdom and her chocolate chip cookies.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 11am on Wednesday March 16th at the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home with visitation one hour before the service.  

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