Marianne Lacava Fightlin

Age 88, of Duluth left us to be with her all-merciful Savior, from her Ecumen Memory Care condo late in the morning of November 12, 2022. She had suffered bravely for several years from dementia. Her going was peaceful and she was surrounded by her family. She was born to the late Prosper Lacava and Ann Lacava of New Britain, CT on October 28, 1934. She was a graduate of the UConn School of Nursing and did a fifth year at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She held numerous administrative positions including Director of Nursing, director of a visiting nurse association and, toward the end of her career, a parish nurse. Throughout her career and even in retirement, she was a stout advocate of patients, at times putting her job in jeopardy. She loved cooking and had the gift of hospitality and was always ready to welcome visitors. She called everybody “honey”. Her Italian cooking was famous. In retirement, she continued her life-long interest in politics, avidly following it in the news, and she continued to be a sought-after advisor to her friends and their children. In her last years at Ecumen, she enjoyed visits from friends and family, and sitting next to her husband, holding hands. She often said that the only thing she liked more than being a nurse was being a wife, mother and grandmother. Central to that was her Catholic faith, in which she was a firm believer.

She is preceded by three Brower grandchildren. She leaves behind her loving husband of 52 years, Marshall. Together they raised two daughters, Kristen T. Miller (Keith Miller) and Miriam L. Brower (Matthew Brower). Marianne will be greatly missed, not only by her daughters and sons-in-law, but also by her grandchildren, Noah Miller (Addie Miller), Nathan Miller, Gianna Miller, Isabella Brower and Lucia Brower; sister Jacquelin Stover and niece Ann and her son.

The wake will be at Dougherty Funeral Home in Duluth, 600 E. 2nd St., on Thursday, November 17th, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. The funeral will be on Friday, November 18th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth, 2801 E. 4th St. (218-727-3555)