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Marilyn (Hecht) Checkla

NORTH CANAAN — Marilyn (Hecht) Checkla, 88, died peacefully at Geer Village in North Canaan on April 22, 2019, with her children at her side. 

She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 19, 1930, to Rose (Goldberg) and Hyman Hecht. 

She married Stanley Checkla on Sept. 9, 1950, and they were blessed to share 67 years together. Stanley predeceased her on Aug. 1, 2017.

After raising her two children, Marilyn took a job as a teaching assistant in the pre-kindergarten of East Ramapo Central School District in Spring Valley, N.Y. She loved working with the children and in her 40s began taking college courses in education. She took great pride in graduating from Empire State College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the age of 51.

She and her husband relocated to Delray Beach, Fla., in retirement and enjoyed more than 20 years there. In 2014, she moved to Geer Village to be closer to their family.

She is survived by her children, Eileen Lee and her husband, John, of Lakeville and Bruce Checkla and his wife, Joy, of Suffern, N.Y.; her grandchildren, Kevin Lee, Stephanie Lee and her husband, Jal Mistry, Jason Checkla and his wife, Stephanie, Jesse Checkla and Nicolyn Checkla; and her two great-granddaughters, Eliana and Abigail Mistry.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was also predeceased by her sister, Estelle Wolk.  

A graveside service will be held at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon, N.Y., on Thursday, April 25, at 11 a.m.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Program, 30A Salmon Kill Road, Salisbury, CT 06068.

Arrangements are under the care of Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan.

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