Maryse was a dedicated and adoring wife and mother who survived the German occupation of France in World War II. At great peril, her family helped to secure the safety of those persecuted in the war. In 1946, she came to the United States and was a haberdasher for the elite in Washington, DC; even Marlene Dietrich bought her hats. Using her prodigious gifts as an artist, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Ohio State University in 1955 emphasizing the fine arts. She attended Georgetown University in 1961 for teaching certification in foreign language. In 1965, she earned a master’s degree in Art Education from Buffalo State.

A staunch believer in the transforming power of education, she served for 27 years as an educator and was loved by thousands of children in the Olean School District. For years she continued to hear how she touched their lives. In Olean, Maryse and her husband opened the Quartier Latin Bookstore, specializing in children’s books until 2004 when she retired at 80-years-old. From 2014 until their demise, Maryse and her husband lived with their children and their beloved dog Nicki in Cuba, NY.

Please join us for a celebration of her life on 3/20/2021 at 11 a.m. at the Mark F. Rinker’s Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba, or by live feed on the associated website. The Rev. Marilyn Hale will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Cattaraugus County SPCA, 2944 Route 16, P.O. Box 375, Olean, NY 14760. Online condolences may be made by clicking the button below.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service Inc., Cuba.