Louise Ryan Marahrens, born December 5, 1947 in New York, NY to John and Louise Ryan (Langer), passed away March 7, 2023 in Fredericksburg, VA. Growing up in the Bronx, NY with her twin brother Don, she attended Evander Childs High School and later completed her undergraduate degree at Hunter College where she realized her love of politics. Louise was always up for a discussion about current events and she enjoyed supporting her favorite political candidates throughout her life.

Louise and her brother Don lived their entire life as inseparable friends. In their young lives, they explored the “side lot on Mickle Avenue;” picked cherries from their tree, and watched the afternoon shade cast over the grass from their back porch. Even though Louise ultimately left the New York metropolitan area, she spent countless hours on the phone with Don discussing everything they experienced throughout their lives. They truly enjoyed a unique and loving bond together until Louise departed us.

Louise met her true love, Paul, at a mutual friend’s wedding in 1971. After many memorable dates, including their first date at a Yankee game, they married on September 16, 1972. The couple always loved to travel, especially in New England. Paul introduced Louise to Cape Cod as a vacation destination in the late 1980s. With their two young children, Julie and Jim, in tow, she immediately fell in love with the local environment and beauty. More regular trips to Cape Cod led to a planned vacation and retirement destination there. In 1997, they purchased a home in East Harwich, MA, as a 25th anniversary gift to each other. Paul and Louise moved to the Cape in 2004. Louise particularly loved to scour the marshes, bays, and waterways for unique shells and rocks; spend time with her beloved friends known as the “Salt Box Society;” and host her young grandchildren.

Paul and Louise continued to travel, including memorable trips to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, Hawaii, Alaska, Italy and the British Isles. She loved the natural beauty of the outdoors as well as discovering and viewing wildlife. In 2007, Louise and Paul began to spend their winters in Palm Bay, FL, enjoying both wonderful Cape Cod summers and warm winter Florida sunshine! All the while, Louise made numerous lifelong friends along the way in all the places they lived.

Those who knew Louise were blessed by her generosity and warmth. The love she shared with everyone with whom she came in contact was beyond measure. She loved her friends and frequently hosted parties and engaged in different projects. But Louise’s real passion was her family; her children, son-in-law, and especially her grandchildren brought her great joy. Spring and autumn commutes between Massachusetts and Florida began to include lengthened visits to Fredericksburg to be with them. Ultimately, she and Paul moved and settled in Lake of the Woods, VA, in 2015. Louise volunteered with her daughter in many endeavors in local Central Virginia, particularly in her grandchildren’s school events.

In addition to Louise’s love of travel with Paul; collecting rocks and minerals; and promoting animal welfare, she was a member of the Civil War Study Group and Republican Club at Lake of the Woods. One of her most rewarding experiences was transcribing the handwritten Civil War letters of Sgt. Jerome Peirce for the National Parks Service. Her contributions are part of the park’s service archive:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/jerome-peirce.htm.

She loved and appreciated the special friends that she and Paul developed in their time at Lake of the Woods and loved her neighborhood of Cloverhill Court.

Louise is survived by her loving spouse of over 50 years, Paul Marahrens. Together they resided in several towns within Bergen County, NJ; East Harwich, MA; Palm Bay, FL, and most recently Lake of the Woods in

Locust Grove, VA. Louise is also survived by her brother Don Ryan (Susan) of Oradell, NJ; her children in whom she took great pride: Julie (Robert Appleton) of Fredericksburg, VA, and James of Amherst, VA; her great joys, grandchildren: Matthew, Andrew, Robin, and Patrick Appleton; nieces Laura Ryan (Gabe Gavilanes) and Therese Ryan (Mike Weinkauff); and great-niece and great-nephews: Gabriel, Carolina, and Sebastian Gavilanes.

A Memorial Service will be held on March 18, 2023 at Johnson Funeral Home, Locust Grove, VA, at 11:00 am with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mary’s Shelter: marysshelterva.org or The Salvation Army.