Marnie J. Ruemenapp

Marnie J. Ruemenapp passed away peacefully in her home on Sept. 22, 2024, at the age of 71, after a year-long courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

Born Sept. 17, 1953, at the Naval Hospital in Kittery, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Henry A. Joyce and Jane Woodward Joyce.

Marnie was married to Dirk F. Ruemenapp for 24 loving years. Beside her husband, she is survived by her two daughters from a previous marriage, Hartley J. Seo and her husband, Matt Seo, of Manchester; Julia M. (“Bee”) DePuy, of Rochester; as well as her step-daughter, Kirsten A. Ruemenapp, of Seymour, Connecticut; a sister, Alexandra Craig, MD, of Lebanon, Maine; a brother, Henry A. Joyce, Jr. and wife Sandra of Wapakoneta, Ohio, and a half-brother, Kennard W. Lang and wife Gina, of Lebanon, Maine.

Marnie's last conventional job before retirement was as an administrative assistant in the newsroom of the New Hampshire Union Leader. However, her real work took place outside of the employment world, and did not cease until her final days. Marnie was a superbly talented and creative artist, inventor, seamstress, craftsperson, handywoman, and not to forget, gourmet cook, until the very day her sickness completely overwhelmed her. There are several now unfinishable projects waiting for her on the dining room table. Marnie had her own overstuffed tool closet in the living room that no one dared access without her permission.

She was also a voracious reader of 19th and early 20th century literature (downloaded for free from the Gutenberg website) on her trusty e.reader on the many days she was laid low by chronic back pain and the blood cancer.

All these activities pale in comparison to her absolute generosity for those in need, compassion for the underdog, unconditional love for family and lifelong friends, and passionate liberalism.

One of the many regrets expressed to her husband near the end was that she'd miss the chance to vote in this crucial presidential election. 

SERVICES: A private family celebration of Marnie's life will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations in Marnie's name can be made to the Mary & John Elliot Charitable Foundation at “donate.elliothospital.org”.