Mary Catherine Sterling Bell, 98 of Leonardtown, MD passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in St. Mary's Hospital Leonardtown, MD. She was surrounded by her family.

Born October 20, 1910 in Leonardtown, MD, she was daughter of the late Lynwood J. Sterling and Ruth Camalier Sterling. Her husband of 54 years, the late Thomas Webster Bell, Sr. died on November 21, 1987.

Mrs. Bell was honored for her sixty years of service to the Bell Motor Company on October 28, 1993. During her years of service, she was the secretary and treasurer for the family business.

Mrs. Bell is survived by a daughter Katherine Bell Atlas of Leonardtown, MD, two sons; Frank C. Bell, Sr. (Diane) and J. Ernest (Ernie) Bell II (Ann) both of Leonardtown, MD, two brothers; Walter Kirk Sterling of Leonardtown, MD and Hugh Dalton Sterling of White Plains, MD. In addition to her husband Mrs. Bell was preceded in death by two daughters, Margaret Ann Bell and Ruth Mathilda Swann a son, Thomas Webster (Tommy) Bell, Jr., nine brothers; L. Edward Sterling, John Benjamin Sterling, J. Nelson Sterling, William O. E. Sterling, James Henry Sterling, B. Harris Sterling, Lynwood J. Sterling, Jr., Ernest Abell Sterling, and Frank Sterling, four sisters; Ruth Sterling King, Eleanor Sterling Sharpe, Lucille Sterling Cheseldine and Mary Theresa Sterling.

Family will receive friends for Mrs. Bell's Life Celebration on Friday, June 12, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650 where prayers will be recited at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 22800 Washington Street, Leonardtown, MD. Interment will follow in the Queen of Peace Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Mrs. Bell's grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary or the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home.