Mary Elizabeth Greer Rendleman

CARBONDALE – Mary Elizabeth Greer Rendleman, 86, passed away peacefully in her home at 1:18 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2018.



Mary was born on January 8, 1932 to Dr. Mark and Iris Camille (Klasing) Greer of Vandalia, Illinois. She married Dr. David Ford Lee Rendleman on June 5, 1954 in Vandalia. They spent many wonderful years together until his passing on December 25, 2015.

Survivors include three daughters and two sons-in law, Lucy Jill Rendleman and spouse Edwin William Vogler III of Cobden, Illinois; Amy Jo Rendleman of Glen Carbon, Illinois; and Dr. Laurie Greer Massa and husband Dr. Christopher Massa of Nicholasville, Kentucky; eight grandchildren, Wesley, Sean and Mary York, Nicole Stewart, Samuel, Elizabeth, Emma and Leah Massa; and five great-grandchildren, Ethan, Gracie and Harper Stewart and Sawyer and Rosemary York.



She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and sister, Lucy Jill (Greer) Baue.



Mary was a graduate of Vandalia High School Class of 1949. She received her initial college education from Monticello College in Alton. She further pursued a degree as a Registered Nurse at Rush-Presbyterian School of Nursing in Chicago. She went on to work at Rush-Presbyterian Hospital where she met her future husband, Dr. David Rendleman of Anna, Illinois.



Mrs. Rendleman and Dr. Rendleman returned home to Southern Illinois in 1954 after practicing medicine at Rush-Presbyterian in Chicago and later in Kent, England. Mary became involved in many community causes, volunteering and supporting health care, wildlife conservation, and education. She was a lifetime member of the American Red Cross proudly volunteering over 1000 hours of service as a Red Cross Nurse. She was a lifelong member and volunteer of the Auxiliary of Carbondale Memorial Hospital. She generously supported the SIU School of Medicine and the SIH Cancer Institute. Proud of her Scottish American heritage, she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Daniel H. Brush Chapter) and Historic Vandalia Inc., supporting the causes of veterans, wildlife conservation, and historic preservation. An avid ornithologist, Mary was an active bird counter and lifetime member of the Southern Illinois Audubon Society. She was a lifelong Presbyterian and served as deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in Carbondale. Mary was an enthusiastic supporter of Southern Illinois University and a lifetime member and supporter of the SIU Alumni Association and SIU Athletics. Her generous desire to encourage local students to become physicians dedicated to Southern Illinois led to the establishment, along with her late husband, of the “Dr. David F. and Mary Rendleman Pre-Med Scholarship Endowment Fund” through the Southern Illinois University Foundation.



Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 9 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Carbondale with Reverend Laurie Fields officiating. Public visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. A private family burial will be held immediately after the funeral service.



The family requests no flowers and in their place remembrance memorials may be given to the “Dr. David F. and Mary G. Rendleman Pre-Med Scholarship Endowment Fund” in care of the SIU Foundation. or to the First Presbyterian Church of Carbondale, or to St. Francis Care Animal Shelter, or to the Southern Illinois Audubon Society, and will be accepted at the church or may be sent to Meredith Funeral Home, c/o Mary Rendleman, 300 S University Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901.



Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale is assisting the family with arrangements. To share a special story or memory of Mary, please visit, www.meredithfh.com.