Mahanoy Area remembers ardent supporter Mary Edith Rhoades

MAHANOY CITY – If you’re from the Mahanoy Area, you probably knew her. Our area lost one of its most ardent supporters last week.

Mary Edith Rhoades was born in Shenandoah and spent most of her life in Mahanoy City, engrossed in many of its most important causes.

She was a teacher for decades at the high school and married Senator James J. Rhoades, who, too, was a Mahanoy Area teacher and later principal.

“Together, they shared a profound commitment to public service,” her obituary reads. “Her impact extended far beyond the classroom walls, as she was widely recognized as an active member of her community, always ready to lend a helping hand or advocate for the well-being of others.”

She was a booster for football, wrestling, and both basketball teams as well as an advisor for cheerleading, bandfront, and National Honor Society.

“She possessed a natural gift for nurturing young minds, instilling not just knowledge, but confidence, kindness, and respect in her students,” the obituary continued.

In the years following Senator Rhoades death, she gave back to the region through the James J. and Mary Edith Rhoades Foundation.

A few years ago, she and her family unveiled a new STEM Lab at the high school dedicated in her husband’s honor.

Her funeral will be at noon Friday at St. Theresa of Calcutta Church.

The article Mahanoy Area remembers ardent supporter Mary Edith Rhoades first appeared on The Shenandoah Sentinel.