Cecilia Rahner

Cecilia (Avon) Rahner, 89, of Manasquan, passed away Saturday, January 21st, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune after a brief illness. Born in Union City, she later moved to Cliffside Park, NJ. She graduated from Cliffside Park High School in 1945 where she was a member of the National Honor Society. Cecilia was the first in her family to go to college; attending the New Jersey College for Women, which later became Douglass College at Rutgers University. In 1948, she met Erwin Rahner on a blind date. Their marriage would last 62 years until his death. For 67 years, she devoted herself to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Cecilia was an active member of the Cliffside Park Number 3 School PTA, serving as president. Ever a theater buff, she enjoyed writing, directing and producing the annual Founders Day Shows for the PTA for many years. She volunteered for a host of different organizations, most notably coordinating the Women’s Gathering at the Upper Room Spiritual Center in Neptune from 1988 to 2015. Ceci was a diehard NY Times Sunday Crossword puzzle enthusiast and loved playing cards and board games with her grandchildren. She was an expert practitioner of the lost art of letter and card writing, and her penmanship (Palmer method) was impeccable. An artist at heart, her water color paintings are proudly displayed in the homes of her children. She was well known for striking up conversations with strangers on the train to NYC and mentoring many women. She was a “great lady” who never forgot that she had grown up on the streets of Union City during the Great Depression. Cecilia was predeceased by her husband, Erwin, her son Keith, her brother Victor and two granddaughters: Gretchen Therrien and Sarrina Rahmun. She is survived by a daughter Suzanne Therrien (Alan), and sons Richard Rahmun (Lindsay), Thomas Rahner, David Rahner (Patricia) and Douglas Rahner (Ellen). “Nana” is also survived by 16 cherished grandchildren: Michele, Paloma, Madeleine, Chloe, Elizabeth, Lucy, Clare, Meghan, James, Kristen, Paul, Joseph, Anna, Emma, Mia and Charles; and by five great-grandchildren: Daniel, Andrew, Evangeline, Dominic and Gabriel. Family and friends are invited attend a visitation on Friday January 27 from3:30 pm to 5: 30 pm at Orender Family Home for Funerals 2643 Old Bridge Road Manasquan with a funeral service to follow at 5:30 pm. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Manasquan Public Library, 55 Broad St, Manasquan, NJ 08736 or the Upper Room Spiritual Center 3455 West Bangs Ave, Building 2, Neptune City, NJ 07753