Mary Ruth Cardinal

Mary Ruth Cardinal, 87, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend, passed away, surrounded by loved ones in her home in Sterling, Virginia, on the morning of April 6, 2023. Mary was born on July 10, 1935, to Edna and Lawrence Fritts, in what is now known as Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. While Mary would eventually seek the vibrancy of urban living, her childhood in Soddy-Daisy, a town surrounded by mountains, lakes, and abundant wildlife, would spark her love of nature and eventually her hobbies of gardening and birdwatching. Mary’s siblings, Helen and Paul, have many fond memories of their childhood, one of which was walking to People’s Drug Store for lunch, in absence of their school’s cafeteria, where Mary would always order a pimento cheese sandwich with chicken noodle soup—a preference that would endure into her adulthood. After high school, Mary moved to Suffolk, Virginia, where she worked at the Lipton Tea factory. The arduous, monotonous nature of factory work was no match for Mary’s sharp intellect and adventurous spirit, so she and her best friend, with whom she remained close, hopped on a bus, moved to Washington, D.C., and began working for the Pentagon. Mary would proceed to spend the trajectory of her 30-year career working as a personnel manager within the United States Geological Survey, where she would eventually retire with a GS-14 classification. While at the Pentagon, Mary met and married the love of her life, Raymond (Ray) Cardinal. Together, they would raise their daughter, Dawn Marie Cardinal, whom they both dearly loved and spent the next 42 years with, until Ray’s death in 2009, building a wonderful life together, traveling around the country and eventually, spending time with their grandsons, Chad and Chris. The bond between Mary, Ray, and their grandsons cannot be understated, and the guidance, support, and love that Mary and Ray gave to their grandsons has unequivocally and positively impacted the course of their lives. To know Mary was to be truly seen, accepted, and loved without judgment. Mary had a youthful spirit that never faded with time or illness, but she also exuded a humble wisdom, quick wit, and fierce resolve. Mary was a pillar of strength and protector of her family and friends, and she was loyal, generous, and trustworthy. With age, Mary endured several illnesses; yet she remained a steadfast embodiment of perseverance, courage, and adaptability. Her memory will live on through those who loved her most, her wise counsel, and perhaps most importantly, her acts of kindness. Mary was preceded in death by her mother, Edna Fritts, father, Lawrence Fritts, and husband, Raymond Cardinal. She is survived by her daughter, Dawn Marie Cardinal (Bob), her grandsons, Chad Lee Barham (Ashley) and Christopher Ray Barham (Emily), her great grandchildren, Jasmine Anne-Marie Berndt (Chad), Liam Ray Barham (Chris), and soon-to-be Emma Leigh Barham (Chris), her siblings, Helen Perry (Henry) and Paul Fritts (Marie), and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Mary’s family would like to extend a special thanks to her caregivers, Ellen Jesse, Daisy Kamara, and the staff at ProMedica Hospice, and to Terrie Cardinal, Rhonda Perry, and Sheri Bemis, who selflessly cared for Mary during her extended illness. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 10, 2023 at National Funeral Home (7482 Lee Highway Falls Church, Virginia 22042). The viewing will be from 11am to 1 pm, the funeral will be at 1 pm, and the graveside service will be at 2 pm. For those unable to attend in-person, the services will also be streamed virtually. Following the graveside service, light refreshments will be served at the home of Dawn Cardinal. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Mary’s name to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital.