Marianne Schenkel Vaccaro

Marianne Schenkel Vaccaro, age 87, of Metairie, Louisiana passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2023. Born in Munich, Germany to parents Andreas Schenkel and Kreszentia Demmelmair Schenkel, Marianne was preceded in death by her brother Franz Demmelmair as well. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Stefano (“Steve”) Vaccaro; sons Joe (Ehren) and Andy (Tammy); a bounty of cherished nieces and nephews; and beloved grandson Max Vaccaro, who will miss their after-school visits and her pre-dinner meals made just for him, especially spaghetti and red sauce.

By the time WWII ended, our mother Marianne had experienced a great deal of hardship before she was 9 years old. She had lost her father whom she remembered as loving her so adoringly. Wartime conditions meant it was always a struggle to find food and stay safe amid city bombings, leading to a life of uncertainty and fear. But as traumatic of a childhood as she may have had, such powerfully negative experiences transformed her into a strong, most loving, and compassionate individual. And so, in addition to our very lives, one of the greatest gifts our mom has given each of us is a resilient heart that knows how to love deeply with tremendous empathy and compassion.

Following the war she completed her education through the eighth grade before having to care for her dear younger brother “Franzi”. Many years later she expressed how she would have liked to continue her education and become a lawyer. Perhaps that explains her keen interest in crime-solving documentaries and Judge Judy. Instead, as she grew up she took on a variety of jobs to earn money for her family, including as a housekeeper and installing radio tubes for Siemens. In the mid 1950s she met our father while he was stationed in Munich, and they married a few years later. At the age of 21 she immigrated to the United States without knowing much English and settled in New Orleans. She quickly began to master the language by reading newspapers, watching television, and taking Berlitz classes, allowing her to seek work in a variety of areas. However, she eventually made the acquaintance of notable New Orleans dress designer Mrs. Gladys Coiron Maginnis who took her on as a seamstress, helping to create Mardi Gras queen, debutante, and wedding gowns over many decades.

Her role as a dedicated mother, however, is what we will cherish her for. She unselfishly made us a priority in so many ways, like making sure we were always groomed and well dressed and by cooking delicious meals and treats for us despite hating “being in the kitchen”. By sharing stories of her life in war-torn Germany, she taught us to be grateful for what we have and to show compassion to those less fortunate. She lived the Beatitudes, not just spoke them. We are blessed then that she leaves us with a wealth of joyous memories and an exemplary set of values and character traits that will lift us from sadness and lead us to continue making the most of our lives.

A visitation for Marianne will be held Tuesday, December 12, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124, followed by a funeral Mass at 1:00 PM, and interment thereafter at All Saints Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate support for the National Jewish Hospital for respiratory illnesses in Denver that played the major role in adding to the greatly enhanced quality and increased number of her years with us.