Mary Naomi Reno

Obituary for Mary Naomi Reno
2/24/1935 to 3/22/2025
M. Naomi Reno was born in Washingtonville, OH, to Fred and Mary (Newcomer) Boston, on February 24th, 1935. She died on March 22nd, 2025, nearly a month after she turned 90 years old. She attended elementary and high school in Columbiana, Ohio, graduating in 1953. She furthered her education at Youngstown State University focusing on a career in music. She majored in clarinet and minored in piano, graduating from Dana School of Music in 1957. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota sorority, national honor society for professional women in music. After college, Naomi married Walter Lewis Reno and moved to western PA. She gave private instrumental music lessons to many in the Sharpsville, Sharon, and Hermitage communities, both in her home and their homes. Later, Mrs. Reno taught music in the Mercer Area School District, directing bands in grades 4, 5, and 6 for 32 years. She also taught classroom music to children in grades 1, 2, and 3. A staunch advocate for education, Mrs. Reno obtained classroom teaching certificates from Slippery Rock and Westminster. Mrs. Reno directed choirs in the Charleston and Clark Methodist Churches. She played in and directed the Bell Choir at Hickory Methodist Church, where she was a member for more than 50 years. She was also the liaison for the Methodist missions program, regularly updating congregants of global activities sponsored by the church. She loved the Lord, reading His Word faithfully, and praying for others daily. Furthermore, while raising her children, she found time to participate in the Mercer County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (ACLD), including serving one term as President. In her free time, she enjoyed traveling, refinishing antique furniture, shopping, watching old TV shows (especially Perry Mason), and in her later years, swimming with Walter at the Buhl Club.
Together Naomi and Walter raised four children on the family farm in Hermitage: Lynda Jean Reno Rickman of Graham, NC, Cynthia Reno Balkstra (Marlon) of Dahlonega, GA, David Lewis Reno (Kathleen Daley) of Mercer, PA, and Debra Reno Moore (Sam) of Sayre, PA. She is survived by her children as well as by a sister-in-law Pauline Boston (Vic Nery) of Lecanto, FL. Family survivors include two granddaughters Rochelle Bennefield (Glen) of Mercer, PA, and Allison Overman of Graham, NC; one great grandson Jakob Isley, three great granddaughters Alicia Rickman, Brianna and Haylee Overman, all of North Carolina, and Ciara Donahue of Atlantic, PA. Survivors also include three grandsons Kevin of Butler PA, Justin, and Dylan Reno of Mercer, PA, and two great, great grandsons, Noah Reno Parker and Emerson Lynn Rickman also of North Carolina. She is further survived by nieces Cheryl Snyder (Lowell) of Columbiana, OH, Amy Karabinas (Tom) of Ormond Beach FL, Sally Sheward (Lou) of Kailua-Kona, HI, and nephew Tom Carroll (Janet 'Susie') of Greenford, OH. Family also includes grandnieces Andrea Snyder (Tom Wakefield) of Boardman, OH, grandnephew Kevin Karabinas (Samantha) of Daytona Beach, FL, great grandnieces Meredith, Elena, and Coraline Wakefield of Boardman, OH, Tera and Lana Karabinas of Daytona Beach, FL, great grandnephew Jacob Karabinas of Daytona Beach, FL, and numerous cousins.
Preceding her in death was her husband of 58 years who died in December 2016, her sister Catherine Carroll and brother Frank in 2015, son-in-law Terry Rickman in 1993, grandnephew Ellery Snyder in 2019, and granddaughter, Shannon Rickman in 2021.
The family wishes to thank Seniors Helping Seniors (Cheryl Canter, Sandy Teeter, Sarah, and Rob), the staff of Anova hospice (Jenny, David, Ida, Nikki, and Robert) and her private team of caregivers (Shirley Annerumo, Ginger Grannis, Jennifer Hockenberry, Aneta Labudek, T'lonia Pruitt, and Cathy Robinson) for the kind and loving care provided during her last year. We are so grateful.
A celebration of life service will be held on June 7th, 2025, 11 am, at Hickory Global Methodist Church in Hermitage, PA. Family and friends are invited to attend and share a light meal following the service. Donations in her honor may be made to Hickory Global Methodist Church (Hermitage, PA #724-981-9450), Anova Hospice (Newcastle, PA #412-885-8500), or the elementary instrumental music program at Mercer area schools (Mercer, PA #724-662-5100 c/o Michael Stabile, Business Manager).