An officer in the Melrose Order of Eastern Star
MELROSE — Marilyn Jean (Flinkfelt) Buonfiglio Clarke, 85, resident of Melrose and formerly of Revere and Boston, passed away peacefully at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers on Thursday, December 23, 2021.
Marilyn was born on February 24, 1936 to the late Hugh Mansfield and Jeannie (Cunningham) Flinkfelt. Tragically, when Marilyn was only 3-years old, her mother passed away. Marilyn graduated Revere High School in 1954, married her high school sweetheart, Richard Buonfiglio, and had two beautiful daughters. Divorced in 1970, Marilyn became a single mother and went to secretarial school in order to support herself and her daughters. Marilyn was an officer in the Melrose Order of Eastern Star and on the Advisory Board of the Rainbow Assembly #7. Marilyn married Wallace Clarke in 1978. They lived on Beacon Hill and in Marblehead, but later divorced.
A life-long Episcopalian, Marilyn was devoted to her faith and church. She was a member of St. Paul’s in Beachmont (Revere) and later Trinity Church in the City of Boston for over 40 years where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, Usher, member of Robert Treat Paine Society, Lay Reader, and organized AIDS Healing Services for several years.
Marilyn enjoyed visits with her grandchildren, watching MSNBC, annual cruises from Portland to Nova Scotia aboard the Prince of Fundy, vacationing in Rockport, and spending time by the ocean. She relished her Scottish ancestry and enjoyed many trips to N.H. for the Highland Games. A sports fan, Marilyn watched all sports teams but had an affinity for Tom Brady, Tiger Woods and Tim Wakefield.
Marilyn was the beloved mother of Laura Jeanne Fitzpatrick and her husband, Richard and Lisa Jeanne Oosterman and her husband, James, all of Melrose. Cherished grandmother of Sarah Jeanne Fitzpatrick and Sean Fitzpatrick. Also survived by her brother John F. Flinkfelt of N.H.
If you wish, memorial contributions can be made to Mystic Valley Elder Services, 300 Commercial St., Malden, MA 02148 or to Trinity Church, 206 Clarendon St., Boston, MA 02116.
Due to public health concerns, services for Marilyn will be held in the spring of 2022 and will be announced, please refer to RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
