Dorothy Mae Wathen Hardin Abell passed away peacefully on February 21, 2013. She was born on July 31, 1922 in Leonardtown, MD, to John Wellington Wathen and Anna Mae Long Wathen. She was the eldest of four children.

Mrs. Abell graduated from Margaret Brent High School in 1939. After graduation, she moved to Washington, DC where later she met a handsome young airman at Bolling Field named Romelus Hilbert Hardin of Elizabethton, TN. They married in 1946. Mr. Hardin died in 1957 in a car crash. In 1960 she married George W. Abell. They had a long and happy marriage. Mr. Abell died in 1998.

Mrs. Abell was known to her family as Pon Mama. She adored her grandchildren. She loved flowers, playing cards and her beloved cats. She provided love and care to many cats over the years. She was an excellent cook. She raised vegetables and flowers through her 90th year. She was quite interested in genealogy. Her memory was excellent and she was considered the "family historian". She was very kind hearted and generous. She had a delightful sense of humor.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers: George Alfred Wathen, Melvin Aloysius Wathen and John W. Wathen, Jr.

Survivors include her daughter Helen Maxine Alvey and her husband, John, of Port Tobacco, MD, granddaughters: Deborah Edwards and her husband, Ray, of King George, VA., Amanda Devito and her husband, Dominic, of Port Tobacco, MD and 7 great grandsons: Austin Edwards and Tyler Edwards of King George, VA., and Richard Michael Waldbauer, Blake Waldbauer and Zachary Waldbauer and Daniel Devito and David Devito of Port Tobacco, MD and one great granddaughter Rachel Marie Edwards of King George, VA. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends on Monday February 25, 2013 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm at the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, 211 St. Mary's Ave., La Plata, MD. 20646. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday February 26, 2013 10 AM at the St. Aloysius Church in Leonardtown, Md. Interment to follow at the Charles Memorial Gardens Leonardtown, MD.

Pallbearers will be Ray Edwards, Austin Edwards, Tyler Edwards, Dominic Devito, Richard Michael Waldbauer and Dale Wathen.

Honorary pallbearers will be Rachel Edwards, Blake Waldbauer and Zachery Waldbauer.

Arrangements provided by Arehart-Echols Funeral Home.