Mary Carol Rau

Mary is survived by her brother George Robert Zastrow, her daughters, Cheri Rau, Mary Rau, Karen Grantham and Carra Rau, her daughter-in-law, Marcia Rau, son-in-laws, Rick Howard and Jeffrey Grantham, her grandchildren, Jason Bourassa, Jeffrey Bourassa, Troy Rau, Raphael Rau, Andrew Howard, Tyler Howard, Daniel Grantham, Benjamin Grantham, Victoria Grantham, Bernadette Grantham, Anastasia Grantham, Seraphina Grantham, Veronica Grantham, her great grandchildren, Jacob Bourassa, Joshua Bourassa, Issac Bourassa, Oliver Bourassa, Lucas Bourassa, her great-great grandson Jax Bourassa, and her adopted son, Samba Diallo.

Mary is proceeded in death by her husband, Curran Rau, son Scott Rau, daughter Leisa Howard, grandson Gabriel Rau. and brother Irvin Zastrow.

As a believer in community, Mary started the Summer Concert Series at the train station in downtown, Kennesaw, was a member of the Kennesaw Business Association, hosted a student in the foreign student exchange program, participated in Cobb Leadership, the Friendship Freedom Force and received the Citizen of the Year Award.

Faith played a big part in Mary's life. She was one of the original members of St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church founded in 1981. Mary participated in the women organization and taught CCD.

Combining her love for music, dance and sewing, Mary opened the Cobb Dance Academy and started the Kennesaw Dance Troupe, a non-profit dance group that performed in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics, the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1996 Paralympics, Festival of Trees, Egleston's Childrens Hospital, North GA State Fair, as well as many festivals and nursing homes.

As a Navy Wife, Mary was very proud and supportive of her career military husband and the US Navy, which sparked her love for travel.

A visitation for Mary will be held on Monday, March 11, 2024 from 6 pm to 9 pm at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, 2950 North Cobb Parkway, Kennesaw, GA 30152. A rosary will be said in Mary's honor from 6:00 pm to 6:15 pm. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, March the 12th, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena, 1618 Ben King Road, NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. A graveside service will occur Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at GA National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton, GA 30114.

If you wish to donate in Mary's honor, please consider St. Vincent De Paul.