Marca Marie Gaudio Renkel

As she grew up, Marca realized she had two loves: sports and animals. At Brooke High School in West Virginia, Marca lettered in swimming, softball, basketball and track, and while she couldn’t play for her high school team, football was yet one more love of hers. She was known by her classmates as being scholastic, driven, energetic and as having a very sharp and witty sense of humor – all characteristics that would stay with her as she grew into adulthood.

As Marca entered West Virginia University, she immediately set her sights on Veterinary Sciences. Taking care of animals had always been her passion, and she realized this was her professional calling – and one that she was endlessly passionate about.

Upon graduation, she accepted a job at the National Institute of Health (NIH). There, she did exactly what she set out to do: care for, protect and study animals. In the 90s, our country had fallen on hard economic times and there was a government shutdown. That meant Marca was not being paid for her job at NIH. She went in to work, anyway. Leaving those animals abandoned and uncared for was simply not an option for Marca.

Her time spent at NIH would unknowingly groom her to become a pharmaceutical rep, and later, she went to work for Genentech – a leading biotechnology company that develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. Marca worked there for more than 10 years and her work family eventually became like her real family. Close bonds were developed and this “family” would later help and support her, through her very own serious and life-threatening diagnosis.

Her work also eventually led her to Columbus, OH, where she would meet Jeremy through their football league. Three years later, and in 2004, they were married at St. Mary’s Church in German Village, OH. Soon after, they had two sons, Collin and Bennett, and their boys were later baptized in the very same church.

Together, Marca, Jeremy, Collin and Bennett began their family in German Village. And much like her work family, she began to forge close bonds with her German Village family, as well. Over the years, she met many other mothers, along with their husbands and children, and soon a group of close-knit friends began to form. Their bond was so tight, they deemed it necessary to call themselves the #RHOGV (Real Housewives of German Village!) - of which, she was a proud and committed member. All committee members had to do was know how to laugh, share stories and drink wine. Marca was, of course, “all in.”

Marca — also known as “Marca Stewart” by family and friends — was endlessly inspired by creativity and decorating, and could always be found adorning her home and her children’s school with colorful, lively decor. Every year for her son’s birthdays, she would have them help her pick the theme for their party, and then she would wear a t-shirt, matching that very theme.

Marca was also known for being equal parts strong, sweet, kind, caring, driven and generous. Her laugh was contagious, as were her humor and wit. Her smile and boundless energy would light up any room. She had a voice that would carry within any forum she stood, and people took notice of her through any conversation and in any setting.

She just had that “thing” about her. When you met Marca, you never forgot her. She was brave and positive, always.

But, her greatest accomplishments — and the source of all of her pride and joy — were her two sons, Collin and Bennett. Caring for them and giving them a childhood that was all about love, support and guidance was a focus that drove her, every single day.

And then one day — in March 2015 — Marca went in to see her doctor, concerned about severe stomach pains. Later that day, she was given devastating news: it was cancer. The type of cancer that Marca was diagnosed with usually leaves the patient with about six to eight months to live. True to form, Marca’s will and determination persevered and she survived through 20 months of cancer.

Marca is survived by her husband, Jeremy Renkel, 45; their sons, Collin, 9; Bennett, 6; and, her sister, Monica Ann, 46, of Washington D.C., and brother Matthew Paul, 43, of Sagamore Hills, OH.

And true to her endlessly giving spirit — because she knew that even in death, she could continue to help others — Marca was also an organ donor.

Marca would want you to remember her in the very same way she lived: as someone who was determined to succeed, and she did so in a way that was admirable, endearing and always with a positive energy. She was humble and never wanted the spotlight on her. Only, without her even realizing, or asking for it, the light was always on her, because that’s who she was and will always be remembered as being: a bright light, that will never burn out, nor every fade away.