Marilyn Crisci died peacefully on August 21, 2024 in her home at Barrington of Carmel in the company of her beloved husband Bob. She was 93 years old.
Marilyn or “Mimi” as she was affectionately called was born on April 18, 1931 to Hester (Harsin) Battreall and Paul Joseph Battreall. She grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Shortridge High School in 1950.
Shortly after graduation, while traveling to visit relatives, Marilyn became stranded on a broken down bus seated next to a handsome soldier named Bob. By the time the bus was fixed, Bob had her address, phone number, and church affiliation. They were married a year later at Camp Atterbury Chapel shortly before Bob’s deployment overseas. Upon his return, they started their family hoping for twelve children but settling on ten. The first five are girls and the second five are boys all arriving within a fourteen year time-span. Needless to say, Marilyn loved babies and thoroughly enjoyed the role of mothering, grand-mothering, and great grand-mothering. She would squeal with delight to hear of another baby on the way. Family was everything to her and she and Bob hosted the increasingly large celebrations of Christmas and Thanksgiving each year. It was through these family get-togethers that she would shine. She created some of the best examples of faith, love, care, laughter and family traditions still honored today and lovingly passed along to the newer generations of the Crisci family.
Once the kids were raised Marilyn embarked on a career in Real Estate. It was a true passion she took to heart. She would scour the Indianapolis and Carmel area to find homes for young families hoping to achieve the American Dream. Selling came naturally to Marilyn but most of all she loved interacting with people and sharing her infectious enthusiasm and her joy of living.
Her strength and faith knew no bounds and she seemed invincible to life’s adversity. For example surviving a pedestrian car accident at age 85 and learning to walk again with a prosthesis. She was a true miracle in every sense of the word and her glamour and sparkle were always on display with her signature red lipstick in the perfect shade to match her unmistakable red hair. She never let anything get in her way and she leaves us with us her optimism, persistence and a deep sense of faith exemplified by the way she lived her life.
Marilyn was a founding member of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church. She is preceded in death by her identical twin sister Carolyn Battreall, her brother Paul Anthony (Tony) Battreall, her daughter Carole Crisci, her grandsons Crew Long and Joshua Jones, and her son-in-law Joe Carman.
She is survived by her beloved Husband Bob, and her children, Cindy Carman, Debbi Turner, Mary Anne Crisci, Cathy Mecker (Mark), Rob Crisci (Debbie), Chris Crisci, Mark Crisci (Katherine), Michael Crisci (Tammie), and Stan Crisci (Michelle). She is also survived by eighteen grandchildren and another ten great grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 10655 Haverstick Road. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 27, 2024, also at the church. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church. Online condolences may be shared by visiting www.flannerbuchanan.com.
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
4:00 - 7:00 pm (Eastern time)
St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Starts at 10:30 am (Eastern time)
St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church
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