Anna Mary Ford

On April 22, 2017, Anna Mary Ford of Nottingham, MD, went peacefully to be with Our Lord surrounded by her family. After a prayer and song, she literally breathed her last Amen with the final note of "It is Well With Our Soul". She died of natural consequences after recently celebrating her 93rd birthday with family.

Mary, as she was fondly known to all, was born in Tower City, PA, the fifth of six children born to John and Annie Leonard. She survived her brothers and spouses, Mark and Elsie Leonard, Jack and Trudy Leonard and Charles and Mary Leonard, and her two sisters, Rita and Pauline and her husband, John Simpson. Following graduation from High School, she attended St Mary's Hospital in Philadelphia, PA and became a Registered Nurse, a profession she practiced her entire working life. She was on staff in the Operating Room at City Hospital and Fort Howard VA where she later transitioned to the dialysis unit after the OR closed. In 1987, she retired from her nursing career at Franklin Square Hospital when she took up a career as a grandmother, babysitting beloved grandchildren.

Mom, as she was fondly known by her children, married Charles Wesley Ford in 1950. They met at Walter Reed Hospital where Mom was assigned as a nurse and Dad was a corpsman in the OR. In late 1952, Dad was sent to Korea and four months later Mom had their first child, Charles, Jr. , who later married Diane. They lived in Philadelphia until Dad returned 18 months later and they moved to Niagara Falls. Their first set of twins, Joseph (who is married to Kathleen) and Mary Rita. Fifteen months later she gave birth to a second set of twins, Tim and Annette Krumske (who married to William). After moving to Baltimore, their third and final set of twins, Patrick (who is married to Kathy) and Peggy (who married Ron Long). Donna Ford (daughter in law) and Paul Lysher (son in law) Almost immediately the family was assigned first to France, then Denmark. The Army felt that seven children which included three sets of twins was not enough challenge for this woman. Upon returning to the US, Mom rose to that challenge to continue working as a nurse at night while providing nurture and guidance to her brood by day. Sleep was taken in small bites and she lived most of this time exhausted. She had a goal that each child would receive as much education as they needed, and subsequently each child went to college. Two West Pointers, two FBI agents, a special education teacher, an expert in Child Life, and an executive secretary to the CEO of Sackett-Waconia industries testify to a her ability to provide her friends and family a life of inspiration, perseverance and determination.

Mary is survived her nuclear family as noted above and their spouses. In 2010, she also faced the difficult task of burying her husband. She was blessed by being survived by all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her seven children provided her thirteen grandchildren: Sarah, Rebekah, Hannah, Lauren, Christina, Julia, Grant, Olivia, Anna, Michael, Jonathan, Kolbe, and Grace. So far, her Grandchildren provided her a legacy of 21 great-grandchildren: Hannah Faith, Abraham, Anastasia, Zoe, Noah, Caleb, Abigail, Joseph, Marcus, Elisabeth, Naomi, Arianna, Sophia, Thomas, Susannah, Lillian, Ella Ruth, Miriam, Joshua, Maya and Kyler.

Mary's funeral will be on Friday, April 28, 2017 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 8420 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236 in Baltimore. Father Brian Rafferty, a good friend of Mary and the entire family, will officiate. Viewing will be at Schimunek's Funeral Home on 9705 Belair Road in Baltimore on Thursday, April 27, 2017 from 4-8 pm. Internment will be conducted at Arlington Cemetery at a date to be determined in the near future, where Mom will be laid to rest with Dad, to whom she was married nearly 60 years.

Mom 's wit and wisdom have been appreciated by everyone over the years, and the love of each has been reciprocated back to her. She lived a life full of love for those she encountered. Her faith, prayers and her family were her anchors. Her reward was the love, respect and admiration from all her friends and family, and the knowledge that she rests with Christ for eternity and a testament to the Golden Rule. She is missed, but her legacy will always be remembered.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society/ Hope Lodge, 636 West Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 or Maryland SPCA 3300 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD 21211