Marilyn Jeanne O\'Neill Tift

SUN CITY WEST - Marilyn Jeanne O'Neill Tift of Sun City West, Arizona, passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2013. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 12, 1924. She graduated from Academy of our Lady at age 17, and entered nursing school at Little Company of Mary Hospital. Marilyn later transferred to Macalester College, where she would meet the love of her life, John Heddens Tift. Marilyn and John were married on November 6, 1944, at Sampson Naval Base in Geneva, New York. After the war ended, they moved to Charles City, Iowa where their four children were born. In 1966 they moved to Edina, Minnesota where John pursued a career in commercial real estate. In 1972 they relocated to Sun City, Arizona where they both worked in residential real estate for Red Carpet Realtors until their retirement. Marilyn had a passion for anything utilizing her artistic talent (jewelry making, lapidary, oil painting, sketching, and sculpture). But her true passion was traveling with her husband and spending time with family. She was equally proud of her Irish heritage and her devout Catholic faith. She is survived by her four children, J. Neil (Denise) Tift of Mesa; Jim (Jan) Tift of Minnetonka, Minn.; Shari (Jim) Hargrave of Surprise; and Bob (Anna) Tift of St. Louis Park, Minn.; 14 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren; and a sister, Joan Schafer of Burr Ridge, Ill. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 am, Friday, November 22, 2013 at St Hubert's Catholic Church, 8201 Main St., Chanhassen, Minn. with visitation at the church one hour prior to the funeral. Following the Mass there was a luncheon in celebration of Marilyn's life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Open Arms Home for Children or Benilde-St. Margaret's School < www.bsmschool.org >. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Arrangements handled by Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels, 763-537-4511.