MARLENE REMBERT
02/19/1938 - 06/19/2023
Marlene Knapp Rembert, 85, died peacefully with family at her side in Houston on June 19, 2023. She was a beloved grandmother, mother, wife and friend.
The daughter of Margaret and John Knapp, Marlene was born on February 19, 1938 in Braddock, Pennsylvania. As a girl, she rode the street car from her home to attend Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Pittsburgh on scholarship, and then graduated with honors from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1959. Not long after, she and her two best friends drove cross-country to San Francisco where she began a surgical nursing position at the VA Medical Center. There, she met a kindhearted medical intern, Frank Rembert, on Christmas Eve 1962. They married on July 13, 1963. By late 1966, they had welcomed twin daughters and two sons. After medical residency in Galveston, the young family settled in Houston, Frank’s hometown.
Marlene was tireless, and she moved through life with expert efficiency and a discerning eye. Her home was a hub of activity for the neighborhood. When her children were young, she sewed their clothes, grew vegetables in the backyard garden and baked fresh treats daily. She hosted a menagerie of pets and fish and several surprise litters of kittens. Marlene led the elementary school PTA, ran the finances of the Dad’s Club swim team, and was honored by the Greater Houston YMCA as a Volunteer of the Year. Over the years, she spent summer weekends feeding scores of teenagers at the river in New Braunfels. She loved being with her children, and believed that nourishing and encouraging her family was the most important job in the world.
Marlene was a consummate hostess. Her dinners, parties and holiday gatherings were highly anticipated and always delicious, and she made the occasions look effortless. For twenty-five years, she and Frank entertained family and friends on memorable ski trips and summer hikes at their home in Colorado. Marlene had a talent for flower arranging, happily helping friends with special events and weddings. She also excelled at shopping and gift-giving, which dovetailed nicely with her often visionary skill at investing in the stock market. She was generous with her time and energy, and welcoming to everyone.
Marlene was an adventurer at heart and traveled the world with her husband and friends. She enjoyed researching and expertly planning trips, seeking out challenging experiences. She trekked, camped, cycled, fly-fished and scuba dived on six continents. Later, she and Frank focused their travels on their children’s homes to spend time with their grandchildren whom she adored. “Nani” always arrived with a carefully wrapped package of homemade chocolate chip cookie bars in hand. And, for many years, she cherished her visits with her grandchildren in Colorado for the 4th of July week, planning activities and menus months in advance.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Frank M. Rembert, M.D.; four children, Sheila (John) Parker of Jamesville NY, Ann (Dan) Safranek of Seattle WA, Frank Rembert of Bozeman MT and David (Patricia) Rembert of Newnan GA; and eight grandchildren, Margaret and Matthew Parker, Laurel and William Safranek, Grace and Claire Rembert, and Gabrielle and David Rembert, Jr. She is also survived by her sister-inlaw Trudi Knapp, niece Sylvia Labuskes, and nephews Mark and Kurt Knapp. She was predeceased by her parents, older brother Regis Knapp, and nephew Eric Knapp.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Sanny Bachtiar for her dedicated and professional care of Marlene for the past several years.
A funeral mass honoring Marlene will be celebrated on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road, Houston, Texas. A private interment will be held at Memorial Oaks Cemetery. In lieu of customary remembrances, please consider memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago IL 60601.