Marion Evelyn Trakoval Lent passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at home with family after a period of home hospice. She was 98.

Born in the Bronx, NY, Marion attended Christopher Columbus High School and studied at Hunter College, eventually earning an Associate Degree from the Harvard Extension School. She later studied at the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing. Marion was a lifelong learner and ardent community activist.

Marion moved to Newton Centre, MA with her husband and two children in 1964 and remained a resident for over 60 years. From the beginning, Marion was involved with improving the neighborhood, circulating innumerable petitions for such things as eliminating heavy trucking on local streets and advocating for crosswalks, crossing guards, and crossing lights. From the early 1970's she raised her children largely on her own. She began work as a personal care attendant continuing her education in her spare time. Marion eventually worked as an activity director bringing her joyful crafts and meaningful experiences to the lives of older adults. She also worked with Newton Housewarming (energy conservation) and was active with the League of Women Voters.

Marion loved being useful and active; she was a scout leader for both her son and daughter. She was an irrepressible supporter of her children's high school basketball, field hockey, swimming, and lacrosse teams. She often provided fresh fruit for the players at half time and cheered enthusiastically, often making unmistakable joyous blasts with an unusual brass horn. Marion brought commitment, energy, and creativity to her family and her activities. She made Halloween costumes for her children and herself (she once wrapped her entire body as a mummy). Before Halloween became commercialized, she made and distributed popcorn balls and candied apples on sticks to every trick-or-treater. She also decorated doll carriages for the Newton Playground's 4 th of July parade for her Kindergartener daughter who pushed it down the grass track where it garnered a blue ribbon for "Most Beautiful."

Marion was a dedicated volunteer with First Night Boston where she painted the faces of hundreds of children and adults for 15 years. She volunteered as an Ombudsman in Newton for 25 years where she diligently represented vulnerable elderly residents in local care facilities. Marion even wrote a realistic
and compelling one-act play chronicling that experience called About Face. She also volunteered with
Sail Boston during the Bicentennial, with the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands, and at local libraries
where she taught English to immigrants and helped them study for the naturalization test.

Always physically active, Marion was a lifelong bicycle rider. Newtonians would see her riding all over the city outfitted with her bike helmet and white scarf functioning as an armband for signaling turns. She hauled groceries home by bike and later by hand cart on the "T" from Haymarket in Boston. She was strong; she once carried a discarded metal desk home on her back for repainting. She loved canoeing, apple picking, picnicking, and sketching people she observed in ordinary scenes – often late at night while waiting for the train home. She deeply appreciated the beauty of nature via gardening, hosteling in rural areas, collecting rocks from the beach, or pressing leaves between wax paper to decorate windows in her house. She was adventurous traveling by train across the United States and hiking and riding a horse in Rocky Mountain National Park in her sixties.

Most important to Marion were her family, dear friends, and her service work. She relished quality time spent with the people and activities she cared about; she also appreciated independent time. She spoke of the freedom she enjoyed when she rode her bicycle. Marion lived life on her own terms, and she lived it with meaningful, community-minded pursuits; she was well loved by her family and friends, and she is deeply missed.

Marion leaves behind her loving son, Robert Lent of Medfield, MA, his wife Marian, grandchildren Warren and Eileen Lent; daughter Lotte Lent of Alexandria, VA, her husband Patrick Andriuk, grandchild Jessica Armstrong of Broulee, New South Wales, Australia; step grandson, Ryan Andriuk of Landover, MD; her sister, Dorothy Bridge of Cos Cob, CT, her nephew William Bridge, his wife Rie and grandnephew Lennox and grandniece Ema, and nephew Craig Bridge. She is predeceased by her parents, Emanuel and Mae Trakoval, and her brother Arthur Trakoval.

Marion's life will be celebrated with a private service at Forest Hills Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made "In Memory" to The Newton-Wellesley Hospital Fund https://www.nwh.org/development-office/giving-opportunities/annual-giving-to-nwh-fund or the
Newton League of Women Voters Scholarship https://lwvnewton.org/lwvn-scholarship-program/