Mary Elizabeth Reiter

Dearly loved Wife, Mother and Nana

Proverbs 31:28 - 31 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Mary Reiter of Chattanooga Tennessee was received by the Lord Thursday, February 10, 2022.

Mary was born in Cambria Heights, Queens, New York in 1953. She was most proud of her role as wife to Steve, mother to David, (his beautiful wife Andi), Cheryl, (her beloved Matthew) and Tara. She was so proud to be Nana to Gage, Kailyn, Jacob, Hannah, Aiden, and Zachary. She moved around the country as her beloved husband transferred for various career moves and in each place she left the same impression; a woman who had a beautiful, authentic smile, a gift of hospitality and pure love for all. If we were to choose a single word to describe Mary, it would be a word we not often heard today- Piety. Above all she could not remember a time in her life, when she did not know Jesus. She was always in love with her Lord and Savior and because of that she blessed others, especially her husband.

Mary met Steve on April 26, 1968, at a dance at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin School, located in Jamaica, NY. She and her Steve fell in love and became one on December 4, 1971. The love between Steve and Mary radiated to all those who met them. At a time when others decried her desire to be a stay-at-home mom, she relished that role, above all others. She dedicated her life to serve well in that capacity. As a teenager, she worked in a local grocery store. After marriage, she supported Steve’s college objective and worked at Lowell, Smith and Evers Mortgage Bankers. After the children were in school, Mary took a role in marketing for Hill-Rom, designing hospital bed tables. Later after moving to the Chicago area, she took a role as the receptionist at the United Methodist Board of Pensions and quickly moved up to work as the Executive Assistant for the head of operations. Several years later, that organization went through a major downsizing which left many of her friends to be forced out so she left to become a Project Manager for a Japanese pharmaceutical firm that made dermatological creams healing raw skin. She was so proud that these creams provided the ability for moms to hold their babies, when they previously has such bad, sensitive skin, any touch was painful.

In 2000 after moving to Dallas, we agreed Mary would not go back to work and instead would be Nana to our grandchildren therefore becoming the primary care giver for Steve’s aging parents. Mary loved to serve on adult renewal weekends called Tres Dias and Emmaus. She was also a leader for teen renewal weekends, called Chrysalis and Vida Nueva. Whether as a board member, rector, music leader, in the kitchen, or in the prayer chapel, Mary treated every opportunity to serve as a blessing from God. In fact, after we came to Chattanooga, as the wife of the Executive Director of Precept Ministries International, she was discouraged by others to let others serve in tasks such as cleaning tables, yet she acted as a servant of God just loving the Lord’s people. Mary has been active at Silverdale Baptist Church in bible studies, small groups, the nursery, as well other Christ centered encounters. Mary loved being an active member of Silverdale, our pastors, small group leader and so, so many others He brought into our lives.

To celebrate Mary’s life well lived, we have scheduled a time to receive friends this Thursday, from 4 until 8 PM, at the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home located at 7414 Old Lee Hwy, Chattanooga, TN. On Friday, February 18th at 1 PM, there will be a Church Service to Honor Mary Reiter at Silverdale Baptist Church 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive Chattanooga, TN. This will be followed by a procession and burial, after the Church Service at Chattanooga Memorial Park, located at 501 Memorial Drive, Chattanooga, TN.

The family appreciates condolences from friends and family during this time and asked that rather than flowers, donations can be made to honor Mary by sending contributions to Covenant Keypers (the spelling is correct) at P.O. Box 340, Hixson, TN 37343. Covenant Keypers has been such a wonderful outreach to touch lives through biblical marriage in our region. Mary and Steve have proudly served for the last 4 years as Board Members for this regional ministry supporting God’s design for lifetime marriage.

Please share your thoughts and memories online at www.ChattanoogaValleyViewChapel.com

Arrangements by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37421.