Meredith Reinhold

Meredith Powers Reinhold, born in 1930, died May 9, 2024, at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, NC. She is survived by four daughters, Dana Reinhold, Nancy Reinhold (Marjorie Richards), Ellie Reinhold (Will Raymond), and Sarah Kaplan (Don Kaplan); her dear grandchildren Casey, Trish, Hannah, and Benjamin; her brother Donald Powers; and twenty-three nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband John Edwards Reinhold (2010), her infant son Jonathan (1954), her beloved grandson Wilfred Elijah Raymond (2019), brother William R. Powers III and wife Sarah, sister Nancy Powers Blethen, brother-in-law Peter Reinhold and wife Faye, and sister-in-law Gretel Reinhold Leed and husband Richard Leed. Born in Providence, RI, Meredith grew up in West Hartford, CT, graduated from the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia, PA, and attended the University of Pennsylvania until her marriage and move to Buffalo, NY in 1952. She worked as a hospital nurse in Buffalo and later in the Philadelphia area. She greatly enjoyed her years working as the bookkeeper, librarian, and school nurse at The School in Rose Valley, a preschool through sixth-grade progressive independent school in Rose Valley, PA which her four daughters attended. After moving to the Chapel Hill, NC area in 1975, she enjoyed a long and rewarding career in nursing at NC Memorial Hospital, retiring from the position of Gastroenterology Nurse Supervisor. In retirement, Meredith and John moved to Deerfield in 2000 where they were active participants in the community. Meredith served on the Health and Wellness Committee and the Library Committee, as well as the Residents’ Council. She and John volunteered with the Deerfield Meals on Wheels network. In recent years, Meredith greatly enjoyed participating in the Deerfield Live Poets Society. Meredith was well-read in many genres but devoted to modern poetry. (She carried an “Emergency Poetry Pack” of favorites in her wallet!) She was an avid reader of the news and kept up with world events. A terrific correspondent, she stayed in contact with relatives and many old friends through handwritten letters and later through emails. Not one to send a generic Christmas letter, she wrote cards and personal letters to many people each year during the holidays. She had a ping pong table in the garage well into her 80s and enjoyed playing with her grandchildren. She loved Scrabble, Bananagrams and Boggle. With an enthusiastic competitive streak, she loved to win! Her aesthetic sense was reflected in her beautiful home and she was usually in the middle of one or more creative projects, whether drawing and block printing, sewing clothes, curtains, and slipcovers, or repairing and refinishing antique furniture. For many years family members gathered delicate driftwood, shells, rocks, and sea glass from which she constructed elaborate, graceful, and elegant mobiles. She made dozens of hand-quilted patchwork baby quilts, each a unique design, which she donated to the NICU at NC Memorial Hospital. Also, each member of the family has one of her quilts. When worsening eyesight ruled out sewing, she dove into paper collage. Meredith was, foremost, a kind, honest, and trustworthy person. She was a self-starter and was self-taught in most of her vocations and avocations. She was funny and appreciated anyone with a good sense of humor. Fiercely loyal, Meredith was a strong advocate and a force to be reckoned with, someone you wanted on your team. She loved life, and she was ready for death. At Meredith’s request, the family will hold a private memorial gathering at a later date. If desired, gifts in her memory may be made to Meals on Wheels (https://www.mowabc.org/) or the Manna Food Bank of Asheville, NC (https://donate.mannafoodbank.org/).

Meredith Reinhold

May 12, 1930 - May 9, 2024