Marilou Taylor

Marilou Taylor of Amherst entered into rest on December 24, 2025 at the age of 100. Beloved wife of 69 years to Dr. Henry Theodore Taylor; loving mother of Lawrence H. (Mary) Taylor, DDS, Timothy V. Taylor, Mark A. Taylor, Pamela Louise (Eric Lamont) Taylor, and Terese L. Taylor; cherished grandmother of seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; loving daughter of the late Edward John and Marie Constance (LeRocque) Gaunder; predeceased by three siblings; survived by brother Lawrence Gaunder (Williamsville.)

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph University Church, 3269 Main St. Buffalo, on Monday, December 29 at 10:00AM. (Please assemble at church.) Entombment Mt. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Amherst Meals on Wheels: Amherst Meals on Wheels ' Serving the community

Born on December 18, 1925, the second of five children, Marilou enjoyed a happy childhood. Deeply religious, Marilou was protected by Guardian Angels who propped her up during the times of ill health. During outdoor school recess, she fell at the playground and suffered a broken leg. Later she also suffered a mild polio bout. Marilou recalled her father picking her up and carrying her in both situations, carrying her until she could walk again. She was devoted to the Virgin Mary and ensured the children received all Christian sacraments.

Educated at Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church and School of Buffalo, she graduated from the 8th Grade. She attended Amherst Central High School. She was an officer of the Omega Sigma Sorority, Gamma Chapter in the Township of Amherst. Elected as Chaplain, she made lifelong connections.

As a youth she traveled by train to Ohio to visit a cousin. Her grandmother Louise Mayer sewed dresses for the excursion. During the Great Depression, Marilou helped her mother Marie to run a family laundry service.

Marilou worked at Smithers Drug Store at Main and Eggert stocking pharmaceuticals, and also worked the soda fountain. Later, W.T. Grants Department Store placed her in the hardware department stocking Bastard Tools. Tragedy struck the Gaunder family when Marilou's father, an employee of Linde Air Products Factory, died from a cardiac event when pushing a car at work. Only 17, Marilou stopped attending high school. She and her brother Edward Gaunder worked jobs to support her three younger siblings and worked with their mother.

In 1944, next door neighbor Mary Jane Simpson referred Marilou to a position at the Prudential Insurance Company, Mortgage and Loan Department. Marilou and Mary Jane would walk to Duff's, put a nickel in the jukebox there, and choose a record to dance to. During World War II, Marilou and her sorority sisters corresponded with Army-Air Corps troops, including her brother Edward and Henry, a sergeant and Normandy D-Day veteran, member of the P-47 support group who earned four battle stars. After the war in 1946, Henry proposed to Marilou at Blessed Sacrament Church on Claremont Ave, Buffalo. They married on November 27, 1947.

As was the custom, Marilou was asked to quit work at the bank because she was married. The couple were avid campers and enjoyed many state parks with their children and relatives. They hosted a weekly Boy Scouts of America troop at their home on Capen Boulevard.

In 1970, Henry temporarily moved the family to enter the University of Connecticut PhD program. Marilou worked as an office manager in the UConn Office of Financial Affairs. She took great pride in her work and worked evenings to type Henry's thesis.

After returning to their home in Amherst, Marilou worked as an administration secretary in the Buffalo State College alumni office. She excelled at bowling, card playing, Scrabble, dancing, music, and gardening. Marilou was known for her delicious chocolate chip cookies, and was an avid knitter who knit hundreds of intricate, colorful blankets, gifting them to scores of family members, numerous Godchildren, and friends.

Marilou lived her life with great dignity and genuine grace, always demonstrating a deep and continuous concern for human values and ideals, and in doing so inspired others to do the same. Her children and church were her greatest joy. She triumphed over hardship through deep Christian faith, love, hard work, and commitment to her marriage and family.