Funeral Mass was celebrated April 3 at St. Paul Church, Los Angeles, for Margaret Elizabeth Rendler, former Cardinal's Award recipient and active in many church outreach efforts, who died March 27 at her home in Los Angeles at age 88.

Mrs. Rendler was named a Cardinal's Award recipient in 1992, and also earned the papal honor Dame of St. Gregory in 1994 as well as the St. John of God Hospitaller Honorary Chairman Award in 2006.

A graduate of St. Paul School and student body president at Catholic Girls High School in Los Angeles, she attended Mount St. Mary's College and the California College of Optometry, where she earned a Doctor of Optometry degree in 1941, and went to work for her optometrist father.

She then married John (Jack) Rendler in 1946 and raised nine children in St. Paul's parish, founding a mother's club there and later becoming active in similar groups at Immaculate Heart and Loyola High Schools. Her service then extended into the community: Good Shepherd Convent Auxiliary, the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women and the promotion of Catholic participation in the United Way program.

Mrs. Rendler also served as president of USC's Newman Guild, was longtime secretary of the Catholic-Jewish Women's Conference, and volunteered often at the St. Peter Claver Center with clothing distribution to the poor.

In a profile for the 1992 Cardinal's Award program, she responded to a question about her life of service with a quote from Albert Schweitzer: "One thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."

She was predeceased by her husband, and is survived by their nine children, Bernice (Michael) Gibbons, Leonita (Dennis) Edwards, Gretchen (Jesse) Bregman, Marian (Larry) Snyder), Madeline (John) McBirney, John (Sally), Charles, Michael (Mercela) and William (Mary); 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Interment was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City. Donations may be made to Catholic Charities Western Region, P.O. Box 15095, Los Angeles, CA 90015.