MECHANIC FALLS – Marilyn Alberta Kyllonen, 74, of Mechanic Falls died Sunday, May 23, at her home after being ill for many years.

She was born in Auburn on Aug. 8, 1929, the daughter of Walter and Verna Pease Ward. She was raised in Portsmouth, N.H., and moved to Mechanic Falls in 1947. She worked in the converting room at Marcal Paper Mill until it closed in 1979.

She then owned Kozy Village Restaurant until 1991, when her illness forced her to retire. She married Rudolph Kyllonen Sr. He predeceased her in 1984. She enjoyed family dearly, keeping them all together. No matter what her family did she was always involved, whether it was racing, hunting, fishing or bird watching.

She is survived by a daughter, Verna A. Coolidge and her husband Jeff of Mechanic Falls; a son, Rudolph E. Kyllonen Jr. and his wife Natalie of Mechanic Falls; a brother, Clyde Ward and his wife Marjorie of Abilene, Texas; five grandchildren, Stephanie, Kyle, Katie, Rudy III and his wife Jenny, and Julie and her husband Kenneth; three great-grandchildren, Brianna, Brandie and Levi; and her longtime companion, Ivan “Bud” Reynolds of Mechanic Falls.

She was predeceased by two brothers, Walter Ward and Carl Ward.