Barbara Discenza - Obituary

arbara Jean (BJ) Discenza, 67, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend and a vision of dignity, perseverance and living life to the fullest in the face of adversity; finally lost her twenty year battle against cancer on Monday, September 10 in Harwood, MD. Born on December 15, 1944 in Bronx, NY to the late Robert J. and Miriam D. Zeller, BJ graduated from the Academy of Holy Angels High School in NJ and earned a B.A. degree in history from Notre Dame of Maryland University. In 1969, she became an outspoken pioneer, leader and advocate for natural child birth and breast feeding. BJ was also a key member of the charter group that established a volunteer ambulance core in Exton, PA and became a Certified EMT and active member of on-call crews. She joined Long & Foster in Severna Park as a real estate agent in 1999 and was a member of the National, State (MD and VA) and Anne Arundel Association of Realtors®, Women’s Council of Realtors, Distinguished Sales Associates and Council of Residential Specialist as well as a member of Red Hat Society, South River Landing Homeowner’s Association and New Annapolitans. She held many elected and appointed offices in all of these organizations. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville and enjoyed visiting historic places, cruising, playing the slots, reading and cooking. Most of all, she enjoyed helping people, both through her volunteer work and by reaching out personally to people she saw in need. She was a fifteen year resident of Edgewater, MD and formerly lived in Ann Arbor, MI; Richland, WA; Charlottesville, VA; Ormond Beach, FL; and Exton, PA. She is survived by her beloved family, husband of 45 years, Walter Discenza; a daughter, Kristin Irving and her husband Mathew of Moseley, VA; a brother, Paul Zeller and his wife Olga of Edgewater, MD; a sister Diane Zeller of South Burlington, VT and a grandson, Arlo Todd Irving of Moseley, VA. Visitors are encouraged to wear their boldest and brightest colors as well as bring pictures or memorabilia to share with others to BJ’s Life Celebration on Wednesday, September 19 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm and on Thursday, September 20 for her memorial service beginning at 11am at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to METAvivor Research and Support, 1783 Forest Dr., #184, Annapolis, MD 21401 or online at: www.metavivor.org (visit the In Memoriam page).