Marlene Elizabeth Kovasckitz

Marlene Elizabeth (Rhineberger) Kovasckitz, 88, died peacefully in the company of loved ones on December 6, 2024, at the white brick house on Main Street - her home of fifty years. 

Born February 21, 1936 in Clyde, Ohio, Marlene graduated from Scipio-Republic High School in 1954. At the age of 21, she flew to Paris, France to wed her sweetheart Thomas Kovasckitz who was stationed there with the U.S. Army. They were married 58 years until Tom’s death in 2015. Their union produced seven children. 

Following many moves and years in military housing, Marlene and Tom settled into the white brick house on Main Street in 1974. There Marlene, ever the Ohio farm girl, could tend her gardens and her rambunctious brood had room to run. With the arrival of grandchildren, Main Street family gatherings became the stuff of legend. 

Marlene was prolifically creative. She could paint and draw. She played the French horn and piano. She sewed clothes for her kids. Each grandchild received a personalized hand-stitched quilt. Her needlepoints and hand-crafted dolls are treasured heirlooms. Marlene costumed the ¾ scale outdoor nativity scene that she and Tom built for Good Shepherd Catholic Church. It has been displayed each Christmas season for thirty years. 

She made lists – oh, so many lists. She got excited about North Carolina basketball. She baked a terrific pie. She taught adult literacy. She could find any cloud’s silver lining. She loved her family, her friends, and animals with a huge and generous heart. She was not a good swimmer. 

In her later years, under the ever-increasing weight of Parkinson’s Disease, she soldiered on obstinately taking 45 minutes to make her bed “because I still can.” 

In addition to her husband Tom, Marlene was preceded in death by her parents Kenneth and Delcie (Miller) Rhineberger, brother Donald D. Rhineberger, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth (Schwartz) Kovasckitz. 

Marlene is survived by her sister Betty Gruver of El Centro, CA as well as her children: Michael (Dana) Kovasckitz of Cincinnati, OH; Daniel (Julie) Kovasckitz of Charlotte, NC; Donald Kovasckitz of Sanford, NC; Diane Kovasckitz of Hope Mills, NC; Sophie Wade of Hope Mills, NC; John (Carol) Kovasckitz of Elkton, MD; and Joseph (Yvonne) Kovasckitz of Hope Mills, NC. 

Also surviving are 18 grandchildren: Judson, Lucas, Stephanie, Greyson, Vance, Brandon, Emma, Delcie, Aaron, Hannah, Rudy, Zoe, Quentin, Thomas, Kenan, Nora, Maya, and Lily; and nine great-grandchildren: Delcie, Arya, Forrest, Riven, Tilly, Noah, Charlie, June, and Eden as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and numerous other family members. 

The family thanks the congregation of Good Shepherd Catholic Church for their prayerful support. We are especially grateful for the heaven-sent women who provided the tender care that allowed Marlene to live out her days at home. 

Services will be held May 6, 2025 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 5050 Oak Street, Hope Mills. The family will receive visitors at 11AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at noon. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org.