Marilyn Ann Kirsh (nee Redden), age 82, of Wooster, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday October 21, 2026 at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital following complications from surgery.
Marilyn’s surviving family includes her children, Andy Kirsh of Wooster, Sally Kirsh of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Ted Kirsh (Kate) of Brunswick Ohio, grandchildren Jennifer Stasko (Brian), Halle Sibly (Kevin), Allyson Polgar (Nate), Danielle Kirsh, Joshua Kirsh, and Rikky, Lindsey, Max, Heidi, and Ben Kirsh. She is also survived by three great-grandsons Brian, Connor and Jude, many in-laws, nieces and nephews, and countless lifelong friends and colleagues.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Larry P. Kirsh, in December 2023; her eldest son Matthew L. Kirsh in April 2018; her mother Dorothy in March 2004; her brother James M. Casey in June 2004; and her father Joe in October 1983.
Born at Deaconess Hospital in Cleveland in June 1944 to Dorothy Ann Redden (nee Nichols) and Joseph Michael Redden, Marilyn was raised in Galion, Ohio, where her grandfather Jay F. Nichols was Mayor for many years and owned and operated a general store on Harding Way East at Mansfield Street. Marilyn was a 1962 graduate of Galion High School, where she met Larry Kirsh who had recently moved from Ashland to Galion. They were married in LaGrange, Illinois in February 1964, and initially made their home in Lyons, Illinois. In the years that followed, their family resided there, and in Marion, Ohio, Galion, Ohio, Grove City, Pennsylvania, Virginia Beach, Virginia and Millersburg, Ohio. Each home reflected her warmth, her love of family, and her commitment to creating spaces of comfort, laughter, and togetherness. Friends and neighbors alike remember her home as a place of hospitality, where everyone was welcomed with a smile, a kind word, and sometimes, a song.
While raising her four children, Marilyn pursued her lifelong passion for nursing, attending North Central Technical College in Mansfield, Ohio while her children were in school. Balancing family responsibilities with her studies, Marilyn often enlisted the help of her children for challenging assignments, including anatomy and physiology dissection projects. This period exemplified her determination, her perseverance, and the collaborative spirit she nurtured in her family. She often joked that her children “learned nursing 101” alongside her, helping with projects and encouraging her late into the night as she studied.
Marilyn’s distinguished career as an operating room nurse began at Galion Community Hospital and followed at Mansfield General Hospital. Yet it was in surgical pediatrics that she found her true calling, dedicating many years as a registered nurse first assistant at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. In the operating room, she combined exceptional skill, precision, and calm with a gentle humor that reassured children and families alike. Colleagues admired her professionalism, patience, and unwavering support, while her sharp wit, keen sense of humor, and infectious laughter brought a sense of warmth and ease to every surgical team she joined. She had a remarkable gift for connecting with children, often reading to them or singing songs before and after procedures, easing fear and bringing comfort in moments that were often stressful or uncertain. Many families remember her not only for her nursing skill but for her personal care, her ability to bring joy, and her constant encouragement to young patients.
Those who knew Marilyn well remember her love of puzzles, board games, word challenges, the beach, collecting pelicans, Jimmy Buffet music, Diet Pepsi, and the occasional black russian! She delighted in hosting spirited evenings of problem-solving, trivia, and laughter with family and friends. Marilyn also loved quiet moments outdoors, particularly fishing at the lake in Galion after long hospital shifts. She found peace in nature but kept her characteristic humor alive—frequently calling one of her children or Larry to remove a fish from the hook.
A lifelong animal lover, Marilyn’s home was filled with energy, laughter, and the sometimes the chaotic presence of her dogs, who kept life lively—especially with four children in the house. She is survived by her faithful companion, Charlie, and was preceded in death by family dogs Muffy, Pepper, Chip, Toby, Tommy, Kaydee, Buddy, and Buckley. Her care for animals reflected the same kindness, patience, and generosity that defined every aspect of her life, from her work with patients to her devotion to her family and friends.
Interment with graveside service will be held Friday, October 30, 2026 at 12:00 Noon at Iberia Cemetery, 3712 Washington Township Road 49, Iberia, Ohio, 43325, where she will be resting in peace next to her parents, brother, grandparents and aunts and uncles. A reception celebrating Marilyn’s life will follow her interment.
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to serve Marilyn’s family and encourage you to share a fond memory or message of condolence on her obituary page at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Homes, Richardson Davis Chapel
Website: www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com