Mary Gerard Mender

Mary Gerard (Geri) Mender passed away peacefully on Monday, September 28th, 2020, at the age of 69 at home. She was born in Mariemont, Ohio, on February 25th, 1951, the daughter of Mary Turpin Gerard Cone and Henry Samuel Cone. She attended grade school at Terrace Park Elementary and later graduated from Mariemont High School in 1969. She attended Ohio University to pursue a Fine Arts Degree with an interest in sculpting and Native American culture. This is where she met her future husband, Shelly A. Mender, while he was in between enlistments in USAF.

Geri was a dedicated mother, wife, daughter, sister and aunt. She is survived by her mother, Mary Turpin Gerard Cone, brother Stephen Cone (Meg) and sister Marguerite Denker (Randy) and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Henry Samuel Cone.

She is also survived by her husband of 44 years, Shelly Alan Mender, son, Kyle Alan Mender and her daughter, Natalie Gerard Mender. She especially loved her role as "Nonnie" to her grandchildren, Hudson Oliver Slater and Margaux Emerson Slater. Geri had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh.

She lived in her favorite artistic place, Santa Fe, New Mexico, as a reclusive artist before she became a mother. She was strong-willed, hard-working and creative. She would wrap herself in a blanket and wait, shivering, in the cold dark for a sunrise to paint; would climb a ladder to see the stars from an adobe roof, and hop around in her moccasins on an enormous canvas to add final touches before all the paint dried. Her attire was blue jeans and cowgirl boots no matter the occasion.

In addition to being a talented artist with whatever mediums were within reach, she was a Montessori trained teacher in Los Angeles and an adored special education teacher at Madeira City Schools. Her uncompromising compassion, boundless energy, and captivating smile served her well in gaining and keeping her students' trust and love. She changed the world by improving and giving hope to one child at a time.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Cincinnati Children's Hospital or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to commemorate her passion for working with children. Family is being served by Evans Funeral Home in Milford, Ohio. Services private.