Mary Ann Rodneff's Obituary
Mary Ann Rodneff, 78 of Redland, Florida passed at 08:23 am on Sunday, January 14, 2024, away due to medical complications after a long battle with CV disease and Dementia.
She was born February 11, 1945, in Cornell, Illinois to Harbert and Lucille Barham. She was one of seven children, including Alvin, Shirley, Ronald, Kenneth, Janet & Linda. In October of 1964, she married Garry Johnson and with whom she had one daughter Lori Lee. After divorcing, Mary moved to South Florida where she resided for nearly half of her life.
While in Miami, she worked a Just Pants, Inc a local clothing retailer that had stores in major fashion malls across the state of Florida. She held positions of bookkeeper, buyer, General Manager, Vice President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. During that time, she was one of very few women to be in the upper management area of clothing retail in the 70’s and 80’s. She traveled to Europe and the Orient in search of new styles and fashions. While men were still expecting her to fill their coffee cup, she was using her power and expertise to purchase tens of thousands of dollars of fashion items that would undoubtedly change the direction of clothing market in South Florida. After a long career with Just Pants, she opted for a change of pace. She went back to school and became a long-distance truck driver, starting her own company with her partner Jerry Schauer. She drove a 43’ refrigerated Kenworth that was bright red. She often hauled lettuce, ketchup, plants and sometimes even dynamite. Her trips took her away from for weeks at a time, but she loved the open road and all the adventures. She worked in many areas over the years, including, as the medical secretary for Dr. Bernard J. Letourneau, a prominent Doctor of Osteopath in Westchester, Florida and worked with Dodge City Pony Rides coordinating children’s birthday parties. She was a certified Real Estate Agent in South Dade County, she was a certified Travel Agent, but her most favorite gig was working at Papa Nicks Italian Restaurant in West Perrine. She was well-loved, funny, and energetic, with her loyal customers sometimes waiting an extra 20 minutes just to sit at “Crazy Mary’s” table.
It was in the late 1990’s that Mary decided to search for greener pastures elsewhere… She traveled to see family and friends in South Carolina, Arkansas, and North Carolina, hoping to find a place that would satisfy her roaming spirit. She eventually landed in Deland, Florida where she would be close to one of her best friends Earl Carpenter. She began working for the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office as a police dispatcher and then in their Wants and Warrants Section. She loved working there, she loved living there and After retirement, she found a deep, loving group of friends and spent time going to the YMCA, Cassia for Bluegrass Music, the Riverfront parks near the St. Johns’s river just to hang out and visit with friends and enjoyed lunches and movies with her gal pals.
As time passed, Mary decided it would be best to move back to Miami to be closer to her daughter, Lori and granddaughters, Emilee, and Sarah. So, in 2018, she began the move back home to Miami. During those following years, Mary suffered a couple of serious medical emergencies, including a dissecting aortic aneurysm, which complicated her medical status over the next several years. Dementia increasing and mobility issues negated that Mary would move to an Assisted Living Facility that could provide around the clock supervision and assistance. She enjoyed lunching with her friends, happy hour in the lobby, exercise classes and movie time. Her closest friend has a dog named Julio and she got to spend plenty of time giving pets and dog hugs.
She is survived by her daughter, Lori German (nee Johnson) of Redland, FL, two granddaughters, Emilee & Sarah, both of Redland, FL, sister Linda (Roy) Oliver, sister-in law Susan (Alvin), numerous nieces & nephews, cousins & friends that became family.
These are some truths about Mary:
• She loved her daughter Lori immensely and made every decision in her life to make sure that Lori had the best opportunity at an amazing life.
• That love fell second to the love of her granddaughters, Emilee & Sarah.
• She never fit into any mold; she always blazed her own way.
• She was an avid scuba diver with over 150 dives from Florida to the Caribbean.
• She loved taking pictures and was an amazing photographer.
• She loved genealogy and worked diligently at bringing together family tree.
• She collected matchbook covers, Beanie Babies and butterflies.
• She was proud as hell that she was a terrible cook.
As the sun sets on this chapter of our lives, the family, and friends of Ms. Mary Rodneff (Barham) will not need to mourn her loss, but rather can revel in the memories of their time shared and will carry with them the sound of her laughter and the warmth of her love. “She now has wings and can fly…”
She is survived by her daughter, Lori German (nee Johnson) of Redland, FL, two granddaughters, Emilee & Sarah, both of Redland, FL, sister Linda (Roy) Oliver, sister-in law Susan (Alvin), numerous nieces & nephews, cousins & friends that became family.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
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