Marilyn Ynez Carroll, 96, passed away on October 15, 2026, with her sons by her side. Born on April 18, 1930, in Los Angeles, California, she was the daughter of the late Clarence (“Bud”) and Mabel Rios.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years, Jim Carroll, her parents Clarence and Mabel Rios, her sisters Corinne and Muriel, and her niece Carol and nephew Michael. She is survived by her sons Tom Carroll (Maureen) of Benicia; David Carroll (Kriston) of San Carlos; and Paul Carroll (Audrey) of San Carlos; her sister Lois Gagna of Fullerton; her sister‑in‑law Corinne Carroll of San Carlos; and 9 nieces and nephews.

She was blessed with nine grandchildren—Aileen (David), Brian (Joyce), Stephen (Leeza), Alyssa (Andrew), Olivia (Colin), John (Ari), Patrick (Caitlin), Juliann (John), and Liam—and one great‑granddaughter, Millie (Olivia and Colin).

Marilyn spent the last five years of her life in San Carlos, where she moved to be close to family. Before that, she lived in Manteca for 58 years, raising her family, building her career, and becoming a cherished part of the community. She was a devoted parishioner of St. Charles Catholic Church in San Carlos and, previously, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Manteca. Her Catholic faith was central to her life, with faith in the peace of Christ guiding her with quiet strength and unwavering devotion.

Marilyn grew up in Southern California during the Great Depression and World War II, the second of four sisters. She attended Catholic schools and later completed the Dental Assisting program at Los Angeles City College, beginning her first career in that field. While working as a dental assistant, she met Jim Carroll—a former Navy sailor and newly trained cowboy—who came into her dentist office and soon became the love of her life for the next 62 years.

Together, Marilyn and Jim raised three boys, beginning in Fairfield and then in Manteca. Marilyn poured her heart into her family, cooking, cleaning, and sewing for her four boys every day. She was deeply involved in her sons’ school and extracurricular activities, serving as room mom, religious education teacher, tutor, 4‑H leader, and a dedicated Band and Athletics Booster.

As her sons grew older, Marilyn returned to school and earned her real estate sales license, beginning her third career. She spent more than 20 years helping families find homes in Manteca, earning a reputation for honesty, great service, and strong advocacy for her clients.

Marilyn and Jim shared many joyful years together—playing bridge, golfing, square dancing, and traveling in their RV with friends and family. When Jim became debilitated by Parkinson’s disease, Marilyn set aside most of her recreational activities and cared for him for 15 years. Her steadfast devotion during those years was a profound expression of her love, strength, and character.

Marilyn will be remembered as a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a woman whose love was unconditional. She lived life to the fullest and led by example—meeting adversity with grace, faith, good humor, and a spirit free of complaint. She is already deeply missed.

On Friday October 30th, a funeral Mass will be held at 10 A.M. at St. Charles Catholic Church 880 Tamarack Avenue, San Carlos CA 94070. A reception will follow immediately at the home of David and Kriston Carroll, 873 Knoll Drive San Carlos. Marilyn will be laid to rest at 3 P.M. at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1500 Mission Road, Colma, CA 94014

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Marilyn’s memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research https://www.michaeljfox.org/ or the Thomas Toy Community Center (Youth support programs in Manteca CA, founded in honor of Carroll family friend) https://www.thomastoycc.org/