Marilyn A. (Miller) Gaffney, age 66, of Abington died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends on Oct. 1, 2011 at her home in Abington.

She was the beloved wife of Robert F. Gaffney, celebrating their 44th wedding anniversary in August.

Born in South Amboy, N.J. on Oct. 29, 1944, Marilyn was the daughter of the late Rev. George F. and Bernice E. Miller. Moving to Abington in 1958, she later graduated from Abington High School and Bridgewater State College. Marilyn devoted her life to teaching children and taught elementary grade levels for 37 years in the Abington School System.  In 1997, she was honored with the "Teacher of the Year" award.

Marilyn was a dedicated member of the Abington First Baptist Church, at various times serving on the Board of Deacons, Board of Christian Education, Editor of the Church Newsletter, and as the Church Librarian. She was a member of the Retired Educators Association of Massachusetts, Plymouth County Chapter and served on the Executive Board. Her favorite leisure time was summering with her husband Bob and friends at Littlefield Beach Campground in Maine in their camper.  Her hobbies included scrap booking, reading on her Kindle, shopping on Amazon.com for whatever suited her fancy, and - oh yes – watching NASCAR races on TV.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her loving daughter, Jennifer Phinney and her husband Christopher of Abington, her bother, Kent Miller and his wife Kathy of Whitman, Sisters-in-Law Rebecca Berryman of Halifax and Judith Finigan of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.  She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Marilyn’s life at the Service at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 8,  at the Abington First Baptist Church, 219 Adams Street, Abington. The internment will follow in the Mount Vernon Cemetery, Abington. Visiting hours will be held from 4-8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7 at Blanchard’s Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte 58 at the rotary), Whitman.

Donations in her name may be made either to the First Baptist Church Library Fund, 219 Adams Street, Abington or Hospice of the South Shore, 100 Bay State Drive, Box 859060, Braintree, MA 02185.