On April 18, 2016, Marlene Schroeder passed from this present world to the world of melted clocks as seen in her favorite surreal painting “Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dali.

Marlene Schroeder will be remembered for her devotion to education and passion for the environment. Marlene was a 1958 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois, earning their gold scholarship key all four years. Marlene began her teaching career in East Aurora, Illinois. When she began teaching in La Grange Park, Illinois, she developed her career-long interest in teaching early math and began to write math textbooks. Her math teaching was recognized at the local, state and national levels. Locally, Marlene was proud to be recognized as the Amesbury 1996 Rotary Club Teacher of the Year. More recently she was chosen for the Educator’s Wall of Fame in the Amesbury High School Lobby. She recalled her students and families with great joy. Marlene was an active proponent of environmental education. Her classes enjoyed many lessons on the environmentally-rich school grounds. She often quoted the world famous biologist Edward O Wilson, who reminded us we are a part of nature, not apart from nature.

Marlene and her life companion of 36 years Norman Rehn enjoyed many outdoor activities, especially canoeing and traveling out West to see desert wildflowers. For years, Marlene has been associated with the Parker River Clean Water Association. She has been a member of Essex County Greenbelt Association and Mass Audubon for many years. Since childhood, music played an important role in her life. For many years she and Norm enjoyed seats at the Boston Symphony. In the summer, they enjoyed the concerts of the magnificent Great Organ at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Marcia (Johnsen) Filip of Batavia, Illinois, and San Diego, and her sisters Janice Hutchison of Englewood, Colorado, and Christine Lightcap of Portland, Oregon.

She is survived by Norman Rehn of Newbury, Massachusetts, her sons Charles Schroeder of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and Dr. Jay Schroeder of Reno, Nevada, daughters-in-law Trish Koehler and Missy Schroeder, grandchildren Travis Armstrong and Nick, Carly, Gabriel and Lila Schroeder of Reno, her brother Robert Filip of Sequim, Washington, and sister Evelyn Braibish of Vancouver, Washington, her mother-in-law Renee Crockett Rehn of Mt. Vernon, Maine, brothers- and sisters-in-law Robert Hutchison of Sequim, Washington, Stanley Braibish of Vancouver, Washington, Warren and Sharon Rehn of Lakewood, Colorado, Peter and Marnie Rehn of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Stephen and Joy Rehn of Needham, Massachusetts, Steven and Sharon (Rehn) Buttrick and Lennie and Cynthia (Rehn) Escalante of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, and cousins, nieces, and nephews. Marlene frequently said, “I am especially blessed to have wonderful friends and I treasure them forever.”

There will be no calling hours. There will be a private scattering of ashes. Marlene hopes friends will remember her when crickets chirp in August, when people notice how bright blue the sky is in October, and when the rivers run full in springtime. Gifts in her memory can be made to the Methuen Memorial Music Hall, 192 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844 or the Newburyport Salvation Army, 40 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.

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