Marilyn Contreas, a lifelong resident of Melrose, died on October 20, 2025, at the age of 74. She was born in Melrose on February 27, 1951, to the late Elizabeth (O'Neil) and John Contreas. Marilyn is survived by her loving sister, Jane Contreas of Connecticut, and numerous loving cousins.

Marilyn graduated from Melrose High School in 1968, earned a bachelor's degree from Webster University, and earned a master's degree in public administration from SUNY Albany. She spent four decades working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. In retirement, she joined the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston as a Collins Center Senior Associate, specializing in modernizing Massachusetts municipal charters.

Visitation will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose, on Monday, November 3, 2025, from 10:00-11:00AM. A Funeral Service will be held inside the funeral home at 11:00AM immediately following the visitation. Interment to follow the service at Wyoming Cemetery, 205 Sylvan St., Melrose. Relatives & friends are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association at action.lung.org or to the American Heart Association at heart.org .