Marie Merendino, 97, passed peacefully to be with our Heavenly Father on December 22, 2021. Marie was born on May 29, 1924 in Nacogdoches, TX to Oscar and Mae Parrish. She was the widow of Joseph Vincent Merendino of Beaumont. Marie and her 7 siblings are part of "The Greatest Generation."

She graduated from Beaumont High School and then attended business school. She was determined to be a self-sufficient woman in the 1940's. Things changed a little when she met a young soldier named Joseph Merendino who was returning from WW2. They went on a blind date and were married a few weeks later. They went on to have two daughters, Charlotte and Brenda.

Marie started in the work force as a secretary and worked her way up to Executive Vice-President at Warren Refrigerators in Beaumont. After retirement she found herself wanting to work again. She spent several years at ERA Team Realtors as an Executive Assistant and honing her skills on the computer - pretty impressive for an octogenarian. Marie was loved and adored by her "ERA Family" and was known for her wit and humor.

Marie taught many family members how to drive and she continued to drive her own car well into her 80's.  Marie and Joe always welcomed family members to stay at their house in Beaumont. They also had many family reunions at their cabin in Barlow Lakes Estates and vacations to New Braunfels. The trips to New Braunfels were started by L.C. and Ikey in the 1950's. Marie and Joe would often meet them at a rest stop on the way and have a picnic of fried chicken and cornbread.

She was called Granny from 1970 until 2000 when she said that sounded too old fashioned. From then on she was affectionately called GIGI. Grandson Dee simply called her Marie or like Joe would say "Maria."  Marie was always dressed up, had her hair "done" and wore colorful beads that matched her outfits.

Marie was predeceased by her brothers Buford, Leon, Horace, Tommy and Donald Parrish as well as her sisters and their husbands Ruth and John Bass and Dorsey Lee (Ikey) and LC Holland and son-in-law Charles E. Hill. She was also predeceased by her brother-in-law Arthur Moyer and best friend, Seawillow "Sue" Hill. She is survived by her daughters Charlotte Hill of New Braunfels, Brenda Cowart and son-in-law Lloyd Cowart of Kyle, Grandsons Dee Charles Hill and wife Ubalda Dominguez Mendiola of New Braunfels, Joey Hill and wife Stacy of Seguin and Granddaughter Kristy Cowart and partner David Boss of Austin as well as Great-Grandsons Timothy Charles Hill Schumacher of Austin and Cooper Jackson Hill  of Seguin and Great-Granddaughter Micayla Decuir of New Braunfels. Marie's beloved Cooper gave her a high five and said "I love you GIGI" and her last words on this Earth were "I love you, too."

She is also survived by her sister Mildred "Milly" Moyer of Beaumont and her sister-in-law Betty Lynn Parrish of Carrollton and numerous nieces, nephews, great nephews and great nieces.

The family is planning a Celebration of Life at 1:00 PM on March 26, 2022 at Lumberton Municipal Utilities District Community Room, 625 FM 421, Lumberton, Texas  77657.

A Family Burial will follow.

Special thanks to Ubalda Dominguez, whom for over a year has assisted the family in the care of Marie and provided unconditional love and support.

Marie's cremains will be buried alongside her beloved husband, Joseph, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Beaumont.

The family would like to express sincere appreciation to Victor Perez and Sue Fletcher from Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home in New Braunfels for their love and support during this time of bereavement.

Special thanks to Dr. Anthony Bienek and staff, from PAK Medical Group, Wimberley.  Also special thanks to Mike Nellis and Richard Cutler from Encompass Home Health of San Marcos. The Hope Hospice staff, once again, has provided the family with love and support, as they did with Marie's son-in-law, Charles.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to Hope Hospice, 611 N Walnut Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130 or Lewy Body Dementia Association at https://www.lbda.org/donate/ if you so desire.