Ivy Isabel MacDonald Rennalls

Ivy Isabel MacDonald Rennalls, age 101 years, passed away on April 3, 2025. She was born on December 6, 1923 in Manhattan, New York to Matthew and Agnes MacDonald. At a young age she and her sister, Ruby, moved with their parents to Jamaica, West Indies, the original home of their parents. Ivy spent most of her early years growing up there. Post High School she was a student at Bethlehem Teachers College and later taught for a few years before returning to the U.S.A. with the goal of more education. She is a graduate of Simmons School of Nursing in Boston, MA and Harvard University (previously called Harvard College) School of Public Health in Boston, MA.

She had multiple employment in Jamaica and the United States. Her first position in Nursing was as Junior Instructor at Simmons College for 10 years. She later worked at the Visiting Nurse Association in New Haven, CT as a Staff Nurse, Nursing Supervisor and Assistant Director.

Marrying Martin Rennalls, ‘Father of Film Making’ in Jamaica brought her back to Jamaica. While there, she was employed at the University Hospital of Nursing and the Advanced Nursing Education Program at the University of the West Indies. They relocated to the United States at which time Martin attended Boston University School of Public Communication; she enjoyed her tenure at the Boston College School of Nursing.

In 1970, they moved to Rochester, NY for Martin’s employment at the Rochester Institute of Technology; and Ivy worked as an educator in Nursing Programs at both the University of Rochester and Nazareth College. Ivy and Martin retired and moved to Hollywood, Florida in 1985. They both volunteered on projects to beautify their neighborhood and Ivy also helped local students with homework and school projects.

Ivy was predeceased by her husband, Martin in 2013 and her sister, Ruby MacDonald in 2016. Following a few hospitalizations, Ivy moved to Brookdale Assisted Living in West Melbourne, FL in 2021 until her passing.

Ivy was known for being patient, loving, outspoken and had a great sense of humor. She will be remembered for her strong trait to maintain her independence, rejecting help unless she was incapable of performing the task. She had many hobbies including reading, world travel, music and she enjoyed dancing even on her 100th and 101st birthdays.

Ivy is survived by her stepdaughter, Marie Maier, a Canadian resident and step-granddaughter, Candace Padmore, a resident of the U.K., several nieces & nephews-in-law who have been sources of help and comfort. Ivy will be missed by family and friends.

A celebration of life service for Ivy will be held Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Fountainhead Funeral Home, 7359 Babcock Street SE, Palm Bay, Florida.

You may join Ivy's Celebration of Life service via live streaming at the following link:

https://youtube.com/live/XNTu6QknkfY

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to: St. James in-the-Hills Episcopal Church

3329 Wilson Street, Hollywood, Florida 33021