Marinel Rochelle Randlett

Marinel Rochelle was born in Beaumont, Texas, and raised in Houston, as the much-loved only child of Lil and Luther Henderson. Her early life included visits with maternal grandparents in Waelder, Texas and maternal aunts in Louisiana. After her grade and high school in Houston, Marinel attended Rice Institute, along with several close friends from San Jacinto High School. Majoring in Languages, she received her B.A. in 1937, enjoying the study of French, Italian, Spanish and English literature, as well as tea dances and time with friends. At Rice, she met Ed Randlett, and the story goes he courted her with orchids and movies, funded with his college job at a gas station. After marrying Ed on July 21, 1938, his corporate work took them to a number of cities, a challenge for a Houston girl, close to her family and friends. Marinel and her growing family lived in Houston, Pittsburgh, New York City (where Rochelle was born), Baltimore (where Mary was born), Chicago (where Jim was born), and Toledo. Marinel and Ed moved back to Texas in 1971, where they enjoyed reconnecting with a familiar life. Marinel was an involved mother and always active in the Episcopal Church she adopted at marriage. She was a volunteer throughout her life. In her Texas years, she was volunteer staff at the gift shop at Charlton Methodist Hospital in Duncanville for more than 25 years. She also managed that gift shop for several years, fulfilling a life dream to run a store. Nel and Ed attended the Dallas Theater Center, until it was too difficult to get there. She made great friendships through book clubs and the Shakespeare Club, a women’s literary club founded in the early 1900s in Lancaster. She was an avid reader and loved sharing and talking about books. She was always a concerned presence in the lives of her children and spent many hours with Jim’s children, Brenna and Mason, when they were young. She took pleasure in the photos of Rochelle’s children Kathy and Jimmy and enjoyed their visits from Florida. She enjoyed Mary’s visits and trips to see her in St. Louis and later, hearing about her step-children, Matt and Bart. She appreciate the gifts of Peggy, Phil and Jon, as partners to her children. In her 90s, when people said she was amazing, Marinel said “I didn’t do anything”, not seeing that her continued life and positive outlook were an ultimate accomplishment. She survived the death of her husband Ed in 1999 and daughter Rochelle in 2001. Many would be surprised to know of the chronic pain from degenerative disk disease she endured, although they realized diminished eyesight was a serious loss. Throughout the long period of her later life, she delighted in getting out to visit with friends, and could be counted on to ask about others’ lives and ideas. And those who have known her throughout her life are guaranteed to talk of their love for her, her bright presence, her humor, and her consideration of others. Her last few years were spent in Allen, at Mustang Creek Estates, very near Jim and Peggy, which was a fine time in her life, with a resident neighbor dog to delight. After a serious illness and surgery in late November, 2011, Marinel was well cared for at Presbyterian Village North and by Faith Hospice, until her death on February 29, 2012. The space she leaves in each our lives tells some of Marinel’s story. Jim will be thinking who he should check on throughout the week, who will laugh at his jokes, and when he needs to buy milk and Hershey bars. Mary will often wonder if it’s time to phone someone and share girlfriend visits. Marinel’s friends in Lancaster will miss looking for her at meetings or talking with her. Her grandkids will miss seeing her on vacations, her cards and gifts and her curiousity about what’s going on with them. All the family who thought of her as “Aunt Nel” will remember her unfailing nurturance and interest. Her young great grandson, Brendan, and step-great grandson, Nelson, will miss knowing her in person, but hear her stories. Once the grief has past, all will remember how she modeled the way forward, with kindness and grace. Marinel’s family ask that if you wish to share a memorial tribute, you contribute to your favorite charity, or send a contribution to one of the organizations important to her: • St. Martin’s of the Fields Episcopal Church P. O. Box 550 Lancaster, Texas 75146 972 227 1311 • Methodist Hospital Foundations 1441 North Beckley Dallas, Texas 75203 Phone 214 947 4555 • Presbyterian Communities and Services Foundation (especially to The Caring Fund) 6100 Colwell Blvd. #225 Irving, Texas 75039 Phone 214 413 4120

Tributes

Marinel Rochelle Randlett

July 22, 1915 - February 29, 2012