Mary Lou Rausch died at home on June 13 due to complications from Lewy Body Dementia. Anyone lucky enough to have had Mary Lou in their life will undoubtedly miss her purity of spirit, boundless optimism and charisma.
Mary Lou was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1933. She was a 1951 graduate of Etna High School. Mrs. Rausch was an avid artist. She studied painting with her friends Jean and Gladys at the Monmouth County Parks System for over a decade. Her favorite subject was sunflowers. Growing up in a musical family (her father was an accomplished pianist), Mary Lou was also a talented singer and took vocal lessons at Duquesne University as a young woman. She performed occasionally with bands at the Shore before settling down as a wife and mother, and could bring down the house with her rendition of “Embraceable You.” Singing Christmas duets with her dear friend Inger was one of her favorite holiday traditions.
Mary Lou was also a beauty queen! She was crowned “Miss Oil Progress” in October 1954 while working in Pittsburgh for the Atlantic Refining Co. This award would be a source of humor over the years, as Mary Lou never took herself too seriously. Mrs. Rausch worked in the 1980s as a retail salesperson and manager at Gift Winds, Little Silver. She retired from Villa Furniture, Middletown in the early 90s.
Mary Lou cared for her mother, mother-in-law and husband for many years. It was an honor to care for her.
She is survived by her daughter, Kim Rausch Lauer and husband John Lauer; her son, Kurt Rausch and wife Kyriaki Rausch and their two children, Alexander and Sofia Louise. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Edward; her parents, Francis and Lyda; her brother, Jack; and her sister, Dorothy. We will miss her dearly.
Funeral services for Mrs. Rausch will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Lewy Body Dementia Association. Details can be found at www.lbda.org.
