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Sister Perpetua Moellering

Sister Perpetua "Angeline" Moellering, S.A.C., a member of the Pallotine Convent in Laurel, died Dec. 23, 2008. She was 88 years old.

Sister Perpetua was born Dec. 6, 1920 in Florissant, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, one of nine children of William and Angeline (Honkomp) Moellering. Sister Perpetua and all of her five sisters entered religious life. Sister Perpetua desired to be a missionary sister and asked her father's permission to join the Pallottine Missionary Sisters in Huntington, W.Va. At the request of her father she helped take care of the remaining siblings and then entered the convent when she was 17. She became a postulant on July 2, 1938 and made her first profession on Aug. 15, 1941. Her father attended when she made her final vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

Sister Perpetua's was known as an outstanding teacher. She received her B.S. in education and M.A. in English from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She taught in Pittsburgh, Pa., 1943-1954; Spring Lake, Mich., from 1954-1957 and 1971-1975; and at Our Lady of Fatima School in Huntington, from 1975-1978.

When the province decided to move its headquarters to Missouri, Sister Perpetua's brother, Walter, located a farm in Florissant that would serve as a retreat center, formation house and provincialate. Sister Perpetua was assigned superior and novice director from 1962-1971.

For 42 years, Sister Perpetua served in Laurel, as a teacher at St. Vincent Pallotti High School and at St. Mary of the Mills Elementary School, and later in parish ministry. She was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2008, and in summer of 2008 she visited her only living sister, Sister Bernice, in O'Fallon, Mo., and made her last retreat in Florissant, then returned to visiting the homebound and patients at Laurel Regional Hospital. After a short hospital stay, she spent her remaining days at the Pallotti Convent, supported by the parish and local communities.

Her brothers, George, Walter and William; and her sisters, Mary Ann (Sister Mary Elise, SSM (FSM)), Catherine Mildred (Sister Angeline, C.PP.S.), Rita (Sister Mary William, SSM (FSM)) and Irma (Sister Mary Ann, C.PP.S.), preceded her in death.

Sister Perpetua is survived by one sister, Sister Bernice, C.PP.S, of O'Fallon.

Visitation was Dec. 26 at St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church, where a Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Dec. 27 at noon. Monsignor Michael Wilson officiated. Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary of the Mills Building Fund, 114 St. Mary's Place, Laurel, MD 20707.

Arrangements were made by Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Ave.

Rosella F. Lorenson

Rosella Frances "Lolly" Lorenson, 84, of Lusby, who formerly lived in Laurel, died Dec. 21, 2008 at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick.

She was born Feb. 13, 1924 in Williamsport, daughter of the late Elliott E. and Margaret E. Stutzman.

Her husband, Louis E. Lorenson, and her brothers, Elliott Eugene Stutzman Jr. and Fred Adam Stutzman, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Lorenson is survived by two sons, Arthur E. Lorenson and David L. Lorenson, both of Springfield, Va.; grandchildren Miriam, Erika, Robert, Audrey, Jolene and Lydia; and great-grandchildren Donovan, Kendall and Zahara.

Arrangements were made by Rausch Funeral Home in Lusby.

Sara T. DeSousa

Sara Tayane DeSousa, 23, a Laurel resident for five years, died Dec. 19, 2008 at Laurel Regional Hospital.

Born Jan. 23, 1985 in Brazil, she was the daughter of Geroldo and Mirian (Damaris) DeSousa. She graduated from Northwest High School in Germantown. She attended Union College in Lincoln, Neb., for two years and Montgomery College for two years. She was a member of the Triadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church in Clarksville and the Brazilian Seventh-day Adventist Church in College Park.

In addition to her parents, Ms. DeSousa is survived by her sister, Quesia Darraris DeSousa, of Laurel; brothers Edvandro Gutenberg DeSousa, of Laurel, and Kleber Morazio DeSousa, of Laurel; and cousins Trisha and Ashley Furtado, of Laurel.

Memorial donations may be made to Brazilian Seventh-day Adventist Church, 8108 54th Ave., College Park, MD 20740 or to Triadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church, 12950 Brighton Dam Road, Clarksville, MD 21029-1411.

Arrangements were made by Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Ave.

Doris M. Dice

Doris Mina Dice, 79, of Annapolis, who formerly lived in Laurel until 2005, died Dec. 26, 2008 at Heritage Harbour Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Annapolis.

She was born May 13, 1929 in Maryland, daughter of John W. and Evangelina L. (Abbott) Pforter.

Her husband, Donald T. Dice, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Dice is survived by her children, Roger, Roy, Arliss, Danny, Dianna, James and Janice; 13 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and siblings Wilma, Hilda and Everett.

Visitation was Dec. 30 at 11 a.m., with funeral service at noon, at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Highway, in Bowie. Burial was at Park Lawn Memorial Park in Rockville.

View and sign the family's guest book at www.beallfuneral.com.

John P. Garber

John Paul Garber, 91, of Columbia, who formerly lived in the Woodlawn/Catonsville area for about 50 years, died Dec. 20, 2008 at Howard County General Hospital in Columbia.

He was born Oct. 10, 1917 in Boswell, Pa., son of the late Michael and Mary Garber. He was a supervisor for the Social Security Administration in Baltimore from the 1950s until his retirement. He had been a resident of Brighton Gardens in Columbia since 2004.

His wife, Helen Catherine Garber, and sisters Elizabeth Thomlinson and Mary Sendeck, preceded him in death.

Mr. Garber is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, John M. and Susan Garber, of Laurel; grandchildren Emily Garber and Marie Raven; and great-grandchild Hans Rafael Raven.

Visitation was Dec. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Ave. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Dec. 23 at 9 a.m. at St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church. Burial was at Jenner Cross Roads Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

Memorial donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 N.W. Ninth Ave. Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494, or Alzheimer's Association, Greater Maryland Chapter, 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093.

Steven P. McGrew

Steven Paul McGrew, 32, of Hanover, who formerly lived in Laurel for eight years, died Dec. 19, 2008 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

He was born June 13, 1976 in Cheverly. He attended Bladensburg High School. He was a manager at the Pep Boys in Laurel.

His parents preceded him in death.

Mr. McGrew is survived by his wife, Shannon M. McGrew; 4-year-old daughter Savannah McGrew; 6-month-old son Steven Paul McGrew Jr.; sister Jennifer McGrew, of Hanover; brother Michael McGrew, of Bowie; aunt Peggy Fowler; and nieces and nephews Christina and Timothy Fowler and Crystal Rose.

Funeral services were Dec. 27, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Donaldson Funeral Home chapel, 313 Talbott Ave.

John W. Pierce

John Wayne Pierce, 76, a resident of Laurel since 1955, who formerly lived in Martinsburg, W.Va., died Dec. 18, 2008 at Greater Laurel Health and Rehabilitation.

Born Oct. 10, 1932 in Martinsburg, he was the son of the late William H. Pierce and Goldie (Shirley) Palmer. He graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1951 and then enlisted in the Navy. Trained as a gunner, he was stationed as a cook and baker at a hospital in Newfoundland in 1953 and aboard the destroyer USS Wallace L. Lind 703 in Korea. He was a dairyman with the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers from 1955 to 1995. After retiring, he worked at Paint Branch Assisted Living Home in Adelphi. He enjoyed woodworking.

His stepfather, Charles S. Palmer, a brother, William H. Pierce Jr., and a sister, Darlene Copenhaver, preceded him in death.

Mr. Pierce is survived by his wife, Glenda Pierce, whom he married in 1953 at the First United Methodist Church; sons Bernie Pierce and his wife, Anita, of Laurel, Charlie Pierce and his wife, Donna, of Westminster, and Art Pierce and his life partner, Michael Miller, of Martinsburg; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters Donna Jean Staubs and her husband, Herald, of Inwood, W.Va., and Mary Lee Henry, of Martinsburg; sister-in-law Etta Mae Pierce, of New Bern, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation was Dec. 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Dec. 22 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Ave., followed by funeral services at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Charlie Pierce, son of the deceased, officiating. Burial was at Meadowridge Memorial Park in Elkridge.

Memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland, 1107 Kenilworth Drive, Suite 202, Baltimore, MD 21204.

Patsy J. Renwick

Patsy J. (Bennett) Renwick, 56, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Dec. 19, 2008 of natural causes in Martinsburg.

She was born May 29, 1952 in Savage, daughter of the late Aran Thomas and Savannah Blanche (Vaughn) Bennett. She worked as a bus driver aide for Howard County schools. Her interests included collecting Hummels, jewelry and gems, antiques, going to the beach and country music.

Her sisters, Della Mae Fellers and Bettey Sue Bennett, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Renwick is survived by her daughter, Renee Bennett, of Inwood, W.Va.; grandchildren Dustin Pierce, of Gambrills, and Cheyenne Pierce, of Inwood; brothers Roscoe Bennett, of Ferndale, Eddie Bennett, of Glen Burnie, John Henry Bennett, of Churchville, Va., and J. D. Bennett, of Churchville; and sister Joyce Ann Deputy, of Lexington, S.C.

Graveside services were held at Meadowridge Memorial Park in Elkridge.

Arrangements were made by Ambrose Funeral Home in Halethorpe.

Mary T. Rice

Mary T. "Dottie" Rice, 99, a resident of Laurel since 1999, who formerly lived in Meadville, Pa., died Dec. 20, 2008 at Capital Hospice in Arlington, Va.

Born April 19, 1909 in Bakerstown, Pa., she was the daughter of George W. and Margaret Sweeney Montgomery. A 1927 graduate of Tarentum High School and a 1929 graduate of Slippery Rock State Teachers' College, both in Pennsylvania, she taught history and music at Russelton Junior High School for 19 years. She served as principal during her last five years at the school. Known for her love of animals, she was also a 20-year volunteer at Wesbury United Methodist Community in Meadville.

Her husband, Kenneth W. Rice, whom she married in 1950, preceded her in death in 1962.

Mrs. Rice is survived by her daughter, Cynthia R. Chase and her husband, Phillip, of Laurel; stepdaughter Barbara Moline and her husband, Ronald, of Chicago; granddaughters Margaret Chase Rice, of Laurel, and Rebecca Chase Fowler, of College Park; and grandsons Andrew Phillip Rice and Nathaniel Chase Fowler.

Burial will be at Greendale Cemetery in Meadville.

Memorial donations may be made to Capital Hospice, 9200 Basil Court, Suite 200, Largo, MD 20774.

Arrangements were made by Robert W. Waid Funeral Home in Meadville.

William H. Sampson

William Hugh Sampson, 83, of Laurel, who formerly lived in Bowie, died Dec. 17, 2008 at Laurel Regional Hospital.

He was born Dec. 10, 1925 in Washington, D.C., son of the late Edward and Catherine (Kelly) Sampson. Retired, he was a policeman with the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department. He was an avid golfer.

His wife, Myrtle Sampson, preceded him in death.

Mr. Sampson is survived by his daughters, Cathy Sampson, Carol Colon, Linda Goette and Nancy Duncan; sons Glen Sampson and Tim Sampson; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brother Eugene Sampson.

Arrangements were made by Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Ave.


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