Rhoda Elizabeth Serrin died peacefully at home in her husband’s arms on Jan. 7, 2017.
Rhoda was born in Duluth, Minnesota and raised on the family farm in Saginaw. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Rhoda moved to Baumholder, Germany, to teach school and to meet the love of her life, Phillip A. Serrin II. (Phil hailed from Saginaw, Michigan, which led to their first blind date, interlaced with suspicion that they were from the same town.)
Throughout her life, Rhoda moved around the world to support her family and her husband’s military career, always teaching high school students along the way in such places as Minnesota and in Baumholder, Germany; Indianapolis, Indiana; Leavenworth, Kansas; Alexandria, Virginia; Brunssum, the Netherlands; White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico; and Niceville, Florida. After her husband retired, Rhoda and Phil settled into a routine of spending summers in Minnesota and winters in Arizona. At this point, Rhoda began another career, waitressing at the Trail Center Lodge on the Gunflint Trail for the next 30 years.
Rhoda lived a vivacious, energetic life and remained an active member of the community on many fronts. In the hours before she passed, she participated in her Jazzercise class, played Mah-Jongg with a circle of friends, planned a charity luncheon with the local “Greens” homeowners’ association, and enjoyed martinis and dinner with the love of her life.
Rhoda will be forever remembered as a fabulous spouse, incredible mother, loving grandmother, and superb friend. She is survived by her husband Phillip A. Serrin, II; her children Shelby, Amy and Phillip; and six grandchildren.
Burial services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in the spring. Donations in memory or Rhoda Serrin may be sent to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF), P.O. Box 515, North Hampton, MA 01061-0515.
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