Marjorie Rennie's Obituary
OBITUARY: MARJORIE FRY RENNIE
NOVEMBER 29, 1929 - DECEMBER 23, 2020
Marjorie Fry Rennie, age 91, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, died on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. She was born November 29, 1929, in Columbus, Ohio to Charles Henry Fry and Fannie Ellen Walker Fry. She attended Columbus Public Schools and graduated from West High School in 1947. She attended The Ohio State University for 3 years, studying to be a French teacher. The fall of her Senior year, she left college to marry her sailor, James Jeffrey Rennie (Jim) on September 16, 1950. She worked as a legal secretary in downtown Columbus until her 3rd child was born, at which time she became a homemaker.
When her 4th and last child entered Kindergarten, she returned to college to finish her Bachelor’s Degree – but not in French. She changed her major to Home Economics which required much more coursework in math and science. It took 4 years of part-time classes to finish her degree, all while raising 4 children and working part-time as a School Crossing Guard.
She was employed by Southwestern City Schools, assigned to Norton Junior High School to teach Home Economics in 1967. She taught there until 1970, when she transferred to the new Westland High School where she taught Home Ec I, Home Ec II, Bachelor Living, Marriage & Family Living, and was faculty sponsor for the FHA Club (Future Homemakers of America). She impacted the lives of hundreds of students who to this day, thank her for the lifetime influence she had upon them, teaching them the life skills to cook, bake, sew, mend, iron, launder, set a table, meal plan, live on a budget, live successfully as a single or married, raise children, and save for retirement.
In 1975, Jim was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri with Shell Oil Company. They lived in the suburb of Chesterfield where Marjorie became a licensed Realtor and substitute taught for Chesterfield Public Schools. Two short years later, in 1977, Jim was transferred again, back to Ohio; this time Cleveland. They lived in the neighboring community of Strongsville. Their youngest child, Stephanie joined them on this move. Marjorie and Stephanie rode the express bus to downtown Cleveland for the 5-day commute to their office jobs. And yes, they were captives of the Great Blizzard of 1978, being trapped on a crowded public bus without food, beverage, or restrooms for 8 hours! This was long before cell phones, so Jim made trips from home to the bus stop every half-hour until he brought his hungry and exhausted wife and daughter home at 2:00 in the morning!
In 1979, Jim was transferred again to Chicago, Illinois. They lived in the town of Naperville and rode to work together to Oak Brook where Marjorie worked as a legal secretary. Jim retired in 1988, but Marjorie continued to work another 6 years before retiring in 1994.
Their son, Jeff, had given them 3 grandchildren between 1976 and 1980. Having moved so often, they felt they had missed out on a lot of the grandkids’ growing up years. So in 1995, they decided to relocate one final time to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where they had 5- and 3-year-old granddaughters waiting for them.
Jim and Marge joined Grace Fellowship Church where they were active members of the Amazing Gracers Sunday School Class, and later, the Manna Class. They were at church every time the doors were open, and even more so since their granddaughters attended private school there. They were wonderful participants in their granddaughters’ lives, attending Spelling Bees, school Music Programs, Awards Assemblies, Ballet Recitals, Basketball games, Volleyball games, Softball games, Cheerleading events and Gymnastics Meets. They were present for every birthday party, milestone event, and holiday and always on the ready to provide wisdom and knowledge from the Lord.
Jim and Marge enjoyed the Empty Nest and Retirement years, traveling, taking cruises, visiting the Holy Land (twice!) and making trips to Illinois and Ohio to visit their grown children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Soon after their 60th Wedding Anniversary party, Jim graduated to Heaven in 2010. Marjorie lived independently in their home until 2018, when her health began to decline. Her home was sold and she moved into Brookdale Cedar Ridge Senior Living Center where she was adored by staff and residents alike, affectionately being nick-named the Bingo Queen.
In September 2019, she made the decision to discontinue medications and go under the watchful eye of Hospice Care until her earthly journey ended. And then COVID-19 happened! Brookdale was put under Lock-Down in March 2020, due to the global pandemic. Residents could no longer receive visitors and by this time, Marjorie had lost the dexterity to operate her telephone. She lived 15 months on Hospice until she breathed her last on December 23rd, with a loving Hospice Nurse by her side.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Fannie Fry, her devoted husband of 60 years, James Jeffrey Rennie, her daughter, Brenda Sue Rennie; two sisters, Phyllis JoAnn Fry and Esther Elaine Fry Jenkins, and brother-in-law, Robert Jenkins, and brothers- and sisters-in law, George and Mary Hennick, and James and Grace Pence. She is survived by three children: James Jeffrey Rennie, Jr. (Jeff, and Lori); Laura Jean Rennie Prochaska (Mark); and Stephanie Ann Rennie Sanchez (Claudio). She was blessed with five grandchildren: Timothy Rennie, Kristin Rennie Gbenah (Franklin), Aisha Rennie Nye (Tyson), all of Ohio; Alison Prochaska Collins (Kelton) and Chloe Prochaska of Colorado. She leaves a legacy of 11 Great-Grandchildren, all of Ohio, and many nieces and nephews.
THANK YOU
Marjorie’s family would like to express heart-felt thanks to the members of the Manna Sunday School Class; especially the ladies who went out of their way to include Marjorie in their Bible Studies, Ladies Luncheons, and various class outings. Your friendship is on “pause”, only for a little while, but one day soon, Marge will host a Tea Party at her Heavenly Mansion and you’re ALL invited!
Thanks also to Dr. Edward Rylander and the loving and gracious staff of Transitions Life Care Hospice for their tender care over the past 15 months.
Many thanks to Tammy Richards, Executive Director of Brookdale Cedar Ridge Senior Living Center, and Nurses Kristy Ziegler and Joya Millward, and all the Brookdale staff for the time, attention, and expertise shared with “Miss Marjorie”, who loved you all, dearly. These last two years has had its challenges, but you gave her the best possible life she could have experienced. We thank you with all our hearts.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 29, 2020 from 1 - 6PM at Floral Haven Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held 3:00PM, Wednesday, December 30, 2020 in the Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.
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