After moving to Boca Raton, Mary Lou developed a passion for water aerobics. She taught classes for over 25 years, and often could be found in the pool seven days a week. She was still teaching through last summer at age 84! All of the people she taught through the years held a special place in her heart and she really knew how to get everyone moving in the pool. Mary Lou was a great entertainer, an outstanding cook, and no one ever left her house hungry. She enjoyed spending many evenings playing Bridge, Mahjong, and Canasta with dear friends. She taught all her grandkids how to play Rummikub and occasionally would even let them win. As a former teacher, she was also an avid reader and considered herself a lifelong learner.
Mary Lou fought a heroic battle with cancer for 12 years. Even through all of her health challenges she emphasized that a positive attitude is the key to a meaningful life. She didn’t let the cancer change her mindset. “I have cancer, but cancer doesn’t have me,” she would say to her family. Her energy and zest for life were known by all.
Mary Lou was quite the talker and showed genuine interest in whomever shared her company whether that be family, friends, or her doctors and nurses, etc.
Mary Lou was the proud matriarch to her family and always stressed that family comes first. She filled her house with pictures from throughout the years, and cherished the frequent phone conversations she had with her kids and grandkids. To say that she will be greatly missed by those close to her simply is not enough. She was strong, she was wise, and she loved her family with such passion. Her memory and impact will be forever carried on through them as they loved her fiercely as well.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Lucille Rinck; and a brother, Donald Rinck.
Mary Lou is survived by her sister, Lanie (Bill) Corbin;
her four children Barb Renner, Don (Cindy) Reis, Bill Burton, Lizzie (Greg) Farland;
11 grandchildren, Lara Dorner, Paul Renner, Daniel Renner, Samuel Renner,
Charley Reis, Rachel Villarreal, Lana Reis, Madison Burton, Sydney Burton,
Will Farland, and Grace Farland;
and six Great-Grandchildren.
Funeral: A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 23, 2022, at St. Jude Church in Boca Raton, with a celebration of life to follow.