Marian T. Williams, 88, a retired teacher, died Thursday in her Town of Tonawanda home after a brief illness. She was 88.  Born Marian Tripodi in the Town of Tonawanda, she graduated from Tonawanda High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in English, as well as a teaching certificate, from D'Youville College.
Mrs. Williams taught English at Kenmore West High School for 20 years. She organized an annual fashion show at the school and helped produce a number of plays and shows.  She also was active with several women's organizations and with D'Youville College alumni activities. She did some acting and appeared in two local television commercials. She was honored for her many community contributions with a citation from former Buffalo Mayor Stanley Makowski.  She relished travel, organizing and leading trips to Europe, South America, the Caribbean and Alaska. She also was an avid bridge player and enjoyed spending time with her friends and family.  Her husband of 44 years, Allen J. Jr., died in 1987.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary Joan Hampson-Carlin of Califon, N.J., and Katherine O'Connell of Kirkland, Wash.; two sons, Dr. Peter of Newburyport, Mass., and Dr. A. Joseph III of Nashua, N.H.; two sisters, Kathryn Ponterio of Philadelphia and Josephine Brunsing of the Town of Tonawanda; a brother, Dr. Joseph Tripodi of Olean; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Shrine of St. John Neumann Chapel in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1085 Englewood Ave., Town of Tonawanda, after prayers at 9 in Carlton A. Ullrich Funeral Home, 855 Englewood Ave., Town of Tonawanda. Burial will be in Elma Cemetery, Elma.