Marion M. Pape

Marion M. (Kenney) Pape, 85, of Mount Airy, MD and longtime resident of Ozone Park, NY and West Grove, PA. passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Marion, was born on July 30, 1937 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Helen Rita (Coope) Kenney-Mertz and John William Kenney. In addition to her parents, she was preceded by her brother John Joseph Kenney, sister in-law Mary Virginia (Flynn) Kenney, sister Helen Margaret (Kenney) Esposito, brother in-law Melvin Gabriel Esposito, sister in-law Jean Marie (Pape) Ippolito, brother in-law Joseph Anthony Ippolito and her son in-law Robert L. Gonzalez. A devout Roman Catholic, she was raised on 130th street in South Ozone Park and attended St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church in which she received all of her sacraments. In June 1955, Marion graduated from John Adams High School in Ozone Park, NY. She began work in Manhattan, NY as a secretary and enjoyed her work. At the age of 21, she married Henry George Pape of Glendale, NY on April 4, 1959 and went on to have 3 beautiful children. Besides her husband Henry of 64 years, she is survived by Gerard Henry Pape and husband Robert Michael Agnello, Karen Ann Pape-Gonzalez, Darrin John Pape, wife Nabilah Sulaiman (Haddad) Pape and grandson Henry Darrin Pape.

The family established roots in Ozone Park, NY living in an apartment and finally buying a detached single-family home on 106th street between 101st and 103rd avenues. Marion and Henry lived there from 1969 to 2005 for 36 years. With the birth of her children, Marion put her career aspirations aside and embraced being a full-time mom driving her children to doctor appointments, participating in school events, helping with homework assignments and preparing them for their sacraments. She was a parishioner of Saint Mary Gate of Heaven Roman Catholic Church for over 40 years participating in many ministries, including becoming a Eucharistic minister, a most cherished ministry of hers. Marion was a professed member of the Third Order of St. Francis. In the late 1980’s, she returned to work as an administrative assistant working in a developmental disabled home for over 10 years. She enjoyed sharing motherly advice with the staff, residents and was missed when she left the position in the late 1990’s.

In 2004, Henry retired from the United States Postal service and this began the next phase of Marion’s life. Enjoying the Lancaster Pennsylvania area, Marion and Henry built a beautiful home in the 55+ community of the Ovations at Elk View located in West Grove, PA. She then found her new faith community at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church, made friends in the Ovations community. In her retirement years, she enjoyed going to Lancaster with Henry to partake in the Amish culture and faire. As an active member of the Oxford Senior Center, she made friendships, participated in excursions and enjoyed all that life had to offer. Throughout the years, her mobility began to decline. In April 2022, she suffered a fall in her home and made a recovery at the hospital and skilled nursing at Twin Pines Health Care center.

Realizing her escalating care needs, after 17 years living in her dream house in West Grove, PA and with heavy heart Marion and Henry moved to assisted living at the Lorien of Mount Airy, MD in July 2022. This afforded the opportunity to spend more time with their two sons, son and daughter in-laws and grandson Henry. Marion, having a memory as sharp as a tack, would regale stories from the past and always let husband, her children, in-laws and grandson know how loved they were. In July 2022, she was met with an additional health challenge that required major surgery with a long recovery to follow. She met each challenge, remained focused on leaving skilled nursing and to return to her room in skilled nursing. In November 2022, Marion returned to assisted living as a hospice patient to spend time with her husband Henry until the Lord called her home.

As a devoted Roman Catholic Marion lived her life in accordance with the advice of Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582), she stated: “Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God alone is changeless. Patience gains all things. Who has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.”

The wake will be held at the Robert E. Evans Funeral Home, 16000 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD 20715 on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 from 2-4PM and 6-8PM. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, 1940 Mitchellville Road, Bowie, MD 20716 at 11AM, followed by the Catholic Rite of Committal at Lakemont Memorial Gardens, 900 West Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD 21035.

For Flowers, the recommended florist is Bloom’s Florist, Edgewater, MD

https://www.edgewatermdflorist.com

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.robertevansfuneralhome.com for the Pape family.