Marilyn Joy Dziama, 86, of Bentleyville, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Marilyn was born April 28, 1939 in Rockford Illinois, a daughter of Harold and Mary Reed. In her early adult years Marilyn worked as an agent for American Airlines, a job she loved. After her marriage, Marilyn and her husband lived abroad in Peru for 5 years, where her two children were born and where she learned to speak fluent Spanish. In 1972 her family moved to Mt. Lebanon where she resided until 1988. During this time, her husband's work once again took her abroad and she and her family lived in Venezuela from 1976-1978. It was during this time that she became a legal secretary, a position she held until her retirement.

Marilyn had a passion for history and horses. She also had a passion for firearms. She was an active member of the Genealogical Society of Washington County, and this is where she met her second husband John Dziama. John and Marilyn were married in the mid 90's. They resided on the Dziama farm in Bentleyville, where they had Arabian horses and a small herd of Charolais cattle.

Marilyn spent years researching her genealogical tree, and she and John traveled the country and even made a trip to Poland while researching their respective family lineages. In 2011 Marilyn published a book, Our Reed Footsteps, chronicling her family history.

Marilyn had a very fun personality and ALWAYS shared her thoughts... sometimes to the surprise of others. She was a huge animal lover and in recent years had taken in several strays that proved to be loving companions for her. She was extremely thoughtful and protective of friends and family, and will be greatly missed.

Marilyn is survived by her son Paul Gregor (Lisa) Lutka, daughter Natalie Katrina (Tom) Freund, her grandchildren, Alexandra (Gabe) Montelongo, Gabrielle (Nicole) Lutka, Zane Paul (Chela Carr) Freund, Beckam Vladimir Freund, and her great-grandson, Nico Montelongo.

She was preceded in death by her father Harold Reed, mother Mary (Reed) Biggers, husband John Dziama, and brother Harold Reed.