Maryanne, 60, passed away peacefully Wednesday January 4, 2012, after an extended illness at St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan, Texas. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday February 4, 2012, at Friends Congregational Church in College Station, Texas. Please email Laurie at sorelllmisc@gmail.com for info and RSVPs.
Maryanne was born at the Naval Air Station Hospital, Lakehurst, NJ on January 30, 1951. As part of a Navy family, her childhood provided a frequent change of scenery and experiences from Virginia, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Washington. The family returned to NJ after her parent’s retirement from Military Service. She attended Toms River High School, Toms River, NJ, graduating in 1969. Following a family tradition in the nursing profession, she went on to attend St. Vincent’s School of Nursing, NY, NY. Afterward, Maryanne moved to Boston, MA and worked in a number of clinical settings for over 12 years. Following her career in health care, she pursued a new interest and employment in the IT field. She spent the remainder of her professional life employed in this arena. Maryanne relocated to Texas in 1992 and became a resident of the Bryan/College Station area, which she grew to love and consider her hometown. Maryanne lived her life with passion. She took pleasure in and had an eclectic interest in all of the expressive arts. She loved and appreciated, particularly, literature, the visual arts and music. She enjoyed viewing sporting events on TV; tennis, football, Ice Skating and basketball were favorites. Prior to her long illness she enjoyed oil/acrylic painting, among other recreational pursuits. Those who knew her recognized in her a high intelligence and life-long thirst for knowledge. She will be remembered for being a generous, creative human being, enjoying a good laugh, having a keen wit and speaking candidly. She had many friends and was a good friend to many. Although her life became increasingly more limited as her illness progressed over several years, she did her best to live life to the fullest, until she no longer had the strength.
She is survived by the following family members: Frank and Irene Rivers, Jackson, NJ; aunt: Sarah (Sally) O’Connell, Caldwell, NJ; two brothers: Jeffery Rivers, Stockton, NJ & Mark Rivers, Ridgecrest, CA; a sister: Judi Rivers-Nelson & her spouse, Christine Nelson-Rivers, Melrose, MA; a niece: Jenne Tahaney & her spouse, Jason Tahaney, Stockton, NJ; two great-nieces: Isabella and Gabrielle Tahaney, Stockton, NJ; a niece: Karie Rivers, Tampa, FL.
She is survived, also, by those she called and related to as “family”: a daughter: Britney Schier, Kingwood, TX; Laurie & Boyd SoRell, of College Station, TX; nieces, Myriah SoRell, College Station, TX, Brenna SoRell, Austin, TX and Rachel SoRell, Austin, TX.
Beloved daughter, sister, niece, mother, aunt and friend, your presence and contributions in this life will be missed, greatly; rest in peace, dear Maryanne.
