Marilynn Ann (Drisner) Wright, age 90, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.  She was born October 20, 1933, in Racine, Wisconsin to August and Doris Drisner.

Marilynn and her younger brother, Robert, grew up in Racine in a loving, Christian home. In March of 1945, at the tender age of eleven, Marilynn's mother succumbed to a streptococcal infection in her heart. Marilynn's family moved around a lot when she was young.  In fact, Marilynn lived in eight different houses before she was in high school! When her mother got sick in June of 1944, Marilynn spent much of her time living with extended family members, as her father was preoccupied caring for his ailing wife. This living arrangement continued even after her mother's passing, as her father found it difficult to manage working and raising two children on his own.

Following graduation from high school in 1952, Marilynn attended business school because her father felt she needed to have these skills to fall back on if she was going to be a pianist. In 1953, Marilynn enrolled at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, as a piano performance major. It was her dream since she was a little girl to be a concert pianist! After graduation in 1957, Marilynn decided to stay in the Chicago area. She rented a room with her friend, Martha Purdy, in the home of Wheaton College professor Dr. Paul Wright. As it turned out, Dr. Wright had a son, Eugene, who was finishing up his service in the US Army. Upon Eugene's return in 1958, he discovered two lovely young ladies living in his father's basement!

After a period of courtship, Gene and Marilynn were married in June 1959. They bought a house in the newly developed Village of Carol Stream from Jay Stream personally. In April of 1960, son David was born, closely followed by son John in November 1962. Gene and Marilynn quickly immersed themselves in the new Carol Stream community, becoming members one of the first churches in the village, the Village Church of Carol Stream, later to be known as Village Bible Church (VBC). Gene and Marilynn both became involved in church activities. Although Marilynn never realized her dream of being a concert pianist, she became a fixture in the music department of VBC, regularly playing piano for worship services, weddings, funerals, and numerous other events for over fifty years! She may not have played before vast audiences in great concert halls, but she played countless times for the greatest audience of all, her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Marilynn kept herself busy with various jobs throughout her life. She taught piano lessons for many years, served as an accompanist for the choral groups at Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream, and as a secretary at Tyndale House Publishers. She even spent a summer during her college years performing in a song and dance group on a Great Lakes cruise ship! Her longest work tenure was at her alma mater, Wheaton College. She started working as a secretary in the Conservatory of Music, eventually moving to the presidential suite working for the Vice President of Finance.

Marilynn and Gene both retired from their work in June of 2000. After retirement, Marilynn continued her service at VBC. Once retired, she and Gene had time to do some traveling, something they both loved to do. They took many trips including Israel and various countries in Europe. They especially loved traveling to Germany where Marilynn was able to visit distant family. Their travels also included their annual trip to their timeshare in Princeville, Hawaii!

After Gene's passing in 2018, Marilynn moved into Covenant Living at Windsor Park, where she spent her last 5 years until God called her home.
Marilynn is survived by her sons David (Beth) & John (Sharon) of Carol Stream; her grandchildren Kristi Wright, Amy (Scot) Sauers, Jennifer Wright, Mark (Kendra) Wright, Joshua (Dena) Wright, Jessica Wright, her great-grandchildren: Naomi & Bennett Wright and Mason & Emersyn Sauers; and her brother Robert (Ellen) Drisner. She was preceded in death by her husband Eugene.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 2:30 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 4:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187. The service will be livestreamed beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST through this link: Funeral Service for Marilynn Ann Wright. Interment will be private at Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Benevolent Fund of Covenant Living at Windsor Park .

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.