Mary Louise Burkhauser, age 85, died peacefully on October 17, 2024. She was born on August 14, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She spent her final days at the Hospice of Saint Mary's in Callaway, Maryland—where she once volunteered to help others on the same journey into the comfort of her Lord.
Mary spent her childhood growing up in "South Philly" and attended Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, from where she was known to attend sessions of Dick Clarke's American Band Stand. She graduated in 1957, only to meet her future husband a few years later, and was married on May 19, 1962, to John Burkhauser of Trenton, NJ, and started to build a family over the next decade. Collecting newspapers for recycling resulted in purchasing a house in North Wildwood, where the family enjoyed many summers by the sea. She held various jobs over the following years, including Sears, the PA CAT Fund, and Electronic Data Systems (EDS). Retired, she followed the grandchildren to southern Maryland, volunteering on the boards where she lived, including Cedar Lane and Victory Woods. Mary had a part-time job at Saint Mary's Hospital, took the required training, and became a decorated volunteer at Hospice of Saint Mary's.
Mary is survived by her five children, John, Lulu, Nora, Shiya, Frank, thirteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents, William and Mary Murphy, and brothers, Bob, Bill, and Joseph Murphy.

Mary will be remembered by the many friends she made throughout her life, especially her close-knit group of friends at Victory Woods, who pulled together and supported her during difficult times. The family will share stories, such as Mary's fondness for Tom Selleck, whose picture was on her wall, her other occasional escapades, and the memories she created for them when growing up.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mary's two "Sisters Angels," Peggy and Eileen, for their unwavering care and support over the years, during Mary's good and bad days.

Mary's funeral mass will be held at: 2:00 PM Friday, October 25, 2024 The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 22375 Three Notch Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653.

It will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube website: https://www.youtube.com/@immaculateHeartOfMaryChurch/streams

An after-funeral gathering will take place in the: Victory Woods Community Room after the service
Donations in place of flowers can be made to: Saint Mary's Animal Welfare League (SMAWL) http://smawl.org.