Obituary of Marilee Rumpf Ondrus

Marilee Rumpf Ondrus died peacefully at her home on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on December 13, 2018, with her daughter, Marina Ondrus Richey by her side. She was 93 years old.

She was born on January 6, 1925, in South Bend, Indiana. She attended Smith College where she majored in music. After graduating from Smith in 1946, she moved to Princeton, NJ to work for the “College Entrance Examination Board.”

Three years later, she moved to Boston, MA. where she worked for Loomis Sayles as an executive secretary. It was at this time that Marilee discovered the love of traveling and exploring new cultures. Bermuda and Italy were her favorites.

Seeking adventure, Marilee joined the US State Department in hopes of being posted overseas. In 1956, she met and married her husband of 58 years, Milan F. Ondrus. Together with their daughter, Marina, they spent the next 30 years from 1961 - 1991 living in Kronburg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Germany and Brussels, Belgium. Marilee was active in the Women’s clubs of Frankfurt and Brussels. She loved traveling all over Europe and especially skiing and hiking in the Swiss Alps of Klosters.

Marilee and Milan settled in Hilton Head in 1988. They both enjoyed golf and were devoted members of St. Luke’s Church. Marilee is predeceased by her husband, Milan F. Ondrus. She is survived by her daughter, Marina Ondrus Richey and her husband Keith Richey, two grandchildren, Alexander and Veronica Ondrus Richey, nephew, Douglas Kneale, niece, Kathy Mongeau, and sister-in-law, Valeria Cepkova of Bratislava, Slovakia.

A memorial service will be held Monday, January 14, at 3pm at St. Luke’s Church in Hilton Head Island, SC. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Luke’s Church, 50 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928. Arrangements by The Island Funeral Home and Crematory. www.theislandfuneralhome.com