Marilyn Zande, 80, a beautiful and loving wife and mother, of Cornelius, NC died on May 22 at the Levine Dickson Hospice House.
Born in 1935 in Corning Ohio to Wendell Love and Laudell Hope Love, she is preceded by one sister, Patricia Love Hartman, a brother Robert Love and a brother who died at birth. Growing up in sleepy little towns in Southern Ohio she used to escape to the movies and dreamed of one day living her own glamorous life. As an adolescent she would jump into her parents car with her best friend and pretend they were driving to California.
She grew up as the daughter of a teacher, principal and eventual superintendent of schools which, you can imagine, is barely a step away from being a preachers daughter. Marilyn told stories of the hijinks that she and her friends would orchestrate, one involving geese herded into the school building. Alas, use your imagination.
Many small towns and schools later she graduated from Dublin High School where she was active in the theatre program. She worked as a secretary at the Ohio Turnpike Commission and later at Michael Baker Engineering Company where she met the love of her life, Richard Zande. They married only months after their first date and pursued their dream of making a family filled with warmth, love, beauty and good food.
She became an accomplished gourmet chef and baker. Friends, neighbors, and for a short time, a little food shop would be honored with homemade loaves of her perfect crusty french bread. She traveled extensively and, yes, even glamorously with her best friend and husband. Her favorite destinations were always the farmers markets of Italy and France where her obedient husband photographed nearly every gorgeous display for her.
She cherished her four children and 6 grandchildren, always telling them that they could achieve anything to which they set their minds. That kind of encouragement along with a strict sense of discipline and the rich nourishment of delicious meals with crusty bread launched her children and grandchildren on their way to fulfilling lives.
She leaves behind dear friends in both of her adopted hometowns of Columbus Ohio and Charlotte North Carolina where her unique style and generous laughter made the world a little more beautiful.
With her loving husband and family by her side, she passed peacefully and thus, closed the curtain on the beautiful and glamorous life she dreamed of as a child.
She is survived by her husband of 57 years Richard Zande, her four children Michael Zande and wife, Laura of Raleigh, Michelle Zande of New Orleans, Brent Zande of Charlotte, and Patrick Zande and wife, Carrie of Raleigh, five of her wonderful grandchildren, Chandler, Taylor, Grayton, Brennan, Dominic and her four-legged friends, Disney & Coco.
A Mass in Celebration of her life will be held at St. Therese in Mooresville, NC Tuesday May 26, 2015 at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial gifts to Levine Dickson Hospice House, 11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078
Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Huntersville, NC is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com.
