Maryanna Senek-Brandt

This entry is dedicated to Maryanna Senek-Brandt, otherwise known as Mara. We went to the same high school and college and she sang in the Villanova Women's Glee Club with me. Mara died on Thursday of cancer at the age of 39. I didn't know she was sick.

Mara was two years older than me and we kept in touch only sporadically over the years. She was one of those friends whom I always thought I would get in touch with when I had more time.

She was quirky and an individual. I admired that about her, when so many people at our high school and at Villanova just wanted to conform. She loved to write and even put me into one of her novels that she wrote in high school.

Mara had a son that she loved. She was an attorney, who worked for the state government because it was a steady job, but it was never who she really was.

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Here is her obituary:

Maryanna E. Senek-Brandt, 39 of Shirley Lane, Boiling Springs, died Thursday, November 10, 2005 at the Harrisburg Hospital.

Born on December 13, 1965 in Philadelphia, PA, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Helen Pisieczko Senek.

She was a 1983 graduate of St. Basil Academy; 1987 graduate of Villanova University and 1990 graduate of Dickinson School of Law. She retired as deputy chief council of PA State Employee Retirement System. She was a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Carlisle and also a member of the PA Bar Assoc; Villanova Glee Club. She loved writing short stories and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed singing and playing the piano.

Surviving are her husband of 15 years, Gary E. Brandt, Boiling Springs; son, Jake N. Brandt, Boiling Springs; step mother, Ann Senek, Jenkintown, PA; step brother Ronald Strykowski, Mt. Laurel, NJ; step sister, Elaine Shannon, Ardsley, PA; uncle and aunt, Joe and Ann Senek, Philadelphia, PA.

A Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday November 15, 2005 in the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Marsh Drive, Carlisle with the Rev. William J. Waltersheid as celebrant. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There will be no viewing or visitation.

Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home, 219 North Hanover St., Carlisle is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3211 North Front St., Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110.