Maren Rectenwald

Maren was born on February 5th, 1944, in New York, NY, to the late Lawrence F. and Mona Mannix Schmidt. After graduating from high school in Madison, OH, in 1961, Maren received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Villa Maria College in Erie, PA, in 1965. She taught elementary school in Buffalo, NY, Lima, OH, Erie, PA, and Durham, NC, for over 40 years before retiring in 2007 from Pearsontown Elementary School in Durham where she taught 5th grade during the last 10 years of her career. Maren was also a proud Girl Scout leader at St. Jude's/Our Lady's Christian School in Erie, PA, from 1977-1984 as well as a founding and long-time member of many other book and social clubs. In retirement, Maren enjoyed traveling to Lake Erie and the Chautauqua Institution (NY) with friends during the summer, taking OLLI classes at NC State University, knitting, reading and attending her granddaughters' events and activities.

In addition to her parents, Maren was preceded in death by her sister, Katharine Schmidt Vance, and her brother, Lawrence M. Schmidt.

Maren is survived by her husband of almost 50 years (June 25, 2016), Richard L. Rectenwald, as well as her daughter, Beth Byerley and husband David of Cary, NC, her son Rick Rectenwald and wife Kara of Raleigh, NC, niece Mona Vance Ali and husband Saleem, of Columbus, MS, and granddaughters Catie Byerley, Rachel Byerley, Samantha Rectenwald, and Julia Rectenwald. She will also be missed by numerous friends and relatives in NC and PA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Monday, March 14th, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary. The family will receive friends prior to Mass from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. A reception in the Parish Center will follow Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The V Foundation for Cancer Research (www.jimmyv.org).