Marion Rihmland

Marion Rihmland passed peacefully at age 89 on 3/13/2025. Our mother's story was one of war, loss, immigration, citizenship, freedom and most of all, her Christian faith, prayer and gratitude for many blessings. Each of these things contributed greatly to how she lived her life. 

She was born March 1936 in Neuss, Germany to the late Jakob and Kunigunde Schiffer. She spent her earlier childhood years during WW II and knew only too well the sound of bombings and evacuations, poverty, devastation and the loss of her father. This left such an impact, that she spent the rest of her life praying daily for peace in this world and never having to live through all that again. 

Later as a teenager, her widowed mother, who had been a trained opera singer and professional seamstress, was able to use her connections to place Marion in a ballet program and a sports program. This also gave our mom opportunities to model and partake in some fashion contests, wearing original pieces her mother had made. She spent the rest of life, up until age 88, continuing to exercise and dance routinely. Her last ballroom dance show was at age 82! She was also asked by a couple reail clothing stores over many years to model their clothes, again, even into her 80s!

She married our dad, her late husband of almost 57 years, Wolfgang Rihmland, in 1963. She had been working in administrative roles, with the longest 11 year stretch at Opel Noll Automotive. After the birth of Randy, once he was 9 weeks old, she began her first adventure to the United States Of America for Wolfgang's job opportunity. Not knowing a lick of English, she taught herself our language by watching TV, especially the soap opera, General Hospital! Within a couple years, she then had Janine, the first born US citizen, and less than two years after that, we took a long transcontinental ship ride over the Atlantic Ocean and moved back to Duesseldorf, Germany. Marion and Wolfgang developed some very amazing friendships while in the USA, people that became lifelong friends. 

After almost 6 years in Germany, Marion and family moved back to the USA for their second and final adventure, coming back to Pittsburgh again, with Wolfgang accepting the job of President of Kocks Pittsburgh Corporation. Marion had the incredible gift of hospitality, inviting many business people to our home for a wonderful home-cooked meal and a chance to unwind after long hours of work. She was also quite the hostess in so many social gatherings, preparing the house and homemade foods for many parties with their many wonderful friends that they continued to make over all the years. She taught us about manners and etiquette, firm handshakes, and being comfortable conversing with people of all generations. 

In June 1982, after being law-abiding immigrants in the US for 5 years, Wolfgang and Marion passed all their oral exams to become citizens. I had studied hours with her for the exam, having to know all manner of things about our US government, the branches, what they do, who does what, voting, elections, etc.

Marion's Christian faith had been her guiding light, being a staunch supporter for 48 years of her Catholic parish. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, formerly St. Ursula Parish, in Glenshaw. She made sure her kids knew about God, Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mother. Her prayer life was solid and full. She prayed for not only her family and friends, but also for people that didn't even know she was praying for them. She would hear a story about someone's illness or hardship, and would begin praying for them routinely. She had an uncanny and indescribable faith that her prayers were always heard, even  if not always answered. Even in the more mundane things, like losing a wallet, keys, rings, she would pray and those items would appear in places that had already been searched!  She was such a prayer warrior! 

Having gone through childhood that left lasting impressions and memories, she spent the rest of her many years appreciating the ability to afford things, cherishing family, friends, freedom, health, stability of home and community, and the full assurance of God's unwavering love, protection, provision, and promises of eternal life.

Marion was preceded in death by both of her brothers, Dieter and Egon. Surviving are the people who were the center of her world - her children, Randy (Jennifer) and Janine (Grady) and her grandchildren, Natalie, Anthony, Stephen, and Michael. She also leaves behind beautiful relationships with brother and sister-in-laws, nieces, and nephews, lifelong friends, and her faith community. 

Sollon Funeral Home in Canonsburg has been most gracious in helping us bury our mother together with our dad at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glenshaw at a later date. In place of flowers, a donation to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish can be made in her honor.  

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