Mary Schoenebeck

Mary (Marie) Schoenebeck of Richmond Hill, New York, passed away on August 2nd, 2022, at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, New York. Born Maryte Budininkas on November 16th, 1942, in Didvyzia, Lithuania, to Vincent and Teofile (Grinevicius) Budininkas.

Marie lived on her family's homestead, which was also the central hub of their town, housing the post office and only telephone since her father was the mayor. In 1944, during the Russian-German Conflict and with the imminent forced removal of her family (by the Russians) to Siberia, they escaped to Germany (currently Poland). They remained in displaced persons camps until 1948, when she and her parents were able to immigrate to New York City.

Following her high school graduation in New York, Marie attended Brooklyn College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1964. From 1964 until her retirement in 1997, she enjoyed a career as a research assistant at Columbia University in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology using the electron microscope. She worked closely with professor Dr. Virginia Tennyson who became a dear lifelong friend. Marie's many accomplishments include research into Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders.

Marie appreciated fine art and frequenting the many art museums in New York City. She initially dreamed of becoming an artist before finding her niche in science.

She often shared her love of art with her sister, Aldona, and her nephew and nieces, taking them on "guided tours" as often as she could. Marie took many art classes and was talented with watercolors and charcoals.

Another one of Marie's loves was travel and adventure. After graduation, she traveled to Europe and the Caribbean with several close friends. She spent many winter vacations with her family and friends skiing in Monte Tremblant, Canada. She frequently traveled to Bermuda; one of her favorite trips was a tour through Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Marie is predeceased by her parents Vincent and Teofile (Grinevicius) Budininkas, her sisters, Danute Budininkas and Alexandra Pupuviene, niece Dona (Mottle) Stowell, and great nephew Trevor Simpson.

She is survived by her sisters, Ann Pulkauninkas of Oakville, Canada, and Aldona Mottle of Seven Lakes, North Carolina, nephew Alan Mottle of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, niece Edna (Mottle) Simpson of Livingston Manor, New York, nephew-in-law, David Stowell of West Orange, New Jersey, and nieces Danute Lakickiene and Ramute Kacinskiene of Lithuania. Her loving family includes seven great nieces and nephews and numerous great grand nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made to the Trevor Simpson Memorial Scholarship care of Livingston Manor Central School in New York.