Obituary
Mary Theresa Wachter Shenk, age 73, of Daytona Beach Shores, Florida passed away on February 4, 2021 at her home. Mary was the third of five children born to Genevieve von Paris Wachter and Gustave Frank Wachter of Baltimore, Maryland. Mary was united in matrimony to Ronald Francis Shenk on January 15, 1972. The couple had been married for 49 years, and together had three children. Mary’s most important purpose and joy in life was spending time with her children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She loved pickleball, swimming, beach time, and family vacations.
Mary taught school for 42 years, including assignments in Baltimore City Schools from 1971 to 1977, teaching grades 3 and 4, and also serving as a Reading Specialist. Mary worked as a Learning Disability Resource Room Teacher in Harford County, Maryland from 1977 to 1980. From 1983 to 1987, Mary taught Pre-School Special Needs students for the Geauga County Board of Education in Chardon, Ohio. From 1993 until retirement in 2013, Mary taught Pre-School Special Needs students for Columbus City Schools in Ohio. She was certified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in 1997, as an Early Childhood Generalist.
Mary received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, a Masters of Education degree from Towson State University, and earned many additional credits for certification at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, The Ohio State University and Ashland University in Ohio.
Mary is survived by her husband, Ronald Francis Shenk of Daytona Beach Shores, Florida; son, Derrick Shenk(wife, Sandy and granddaughters Vivienne and Eleanor) of Chicago, Illinois; daughter, Elizabeth Carmack(husband Tyler and grandchildren Lily, Lacy and Crew) of Danby, Vermont; and daughter, Kristina Cirminiello(husband, Dan and grandson, Mason) of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey; three brothers; Arthur Wachter, Gustave Wachter and Jay Wachter and families of Baltimore, Maryland.
Mary was very active in her community. She was a member of The Church of the Epiphany in Port Orange, Florida, where she performed a variety of ministries including, Eucharistic Minister, Minister of the Sick and Perpetual Adoration. She was also President of the Oceans Six Condominium Social Committee.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date following the Covid pandemic.
