Mary Ann Bell - Obituary

ary Ann Rafferty Bell, 88, of Annapolis for the past thirty-three years and previously of Bowie, died June 3 after a ten year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Born May 8, 1924 in Ambridge, PA to the late Edward and Mary Ann Rafferty, she went to school at St. Veronica’s and then attended Seton Hill College, where she earned her Master’s Degree in music. She taught music at parochial schools in Pennsylvania before moving to Maryland. Mrs. Bell taught music for Prince George’s County for fifteen years, teaching in various schools around the county. She and her husband Bill met and were married in Pennsylvania in 1949. Mrs. Bell loved needlecrafts, including knitting and embroidery as well as music. She played the piano, was an organist and sang with the choir at Sacred Heart in Emsworth, PA in the 1950’s, and sang with the Heritage Harbor singing group. She also enjoyed playing bridge and swimming, doing water aerobics to stay fit. She and her husband Bill are members of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. She is predeceased by seven brothers, Luke, Thomas, Edward, Joseph, Robert, James, and John Martin Rafferty; and a great-granddaughter, baby Elise Adalia Volk. Mrs. Bell is survived by her loving husband William “Bill” Bell; four daughters, Rosemary Sheehan (Edward) of Manassas Park, VA, Peggy Murphy (Michael) of Ellicott City, Nancy Mahaney (Brian) of Sacramento, CA, and Mary Ellen Shipley (Jay) of Arnold; one son, William E. Bell and wife Angela of Bowie, MD; fifteen grandchildren, Ben Shaffer (Kate DeGovia) of Los Angeles, CA, Dan Shaffer (Susan) of Alexandria, VA, Kerri Morse (Rob) of Eldersburg, Michael John and Katherine Mahaney both of Sacramento, CA, Shaun Bell (Lindsey) of Chesterland, OH, Teresa Purdum (Peter) of Crofton, Anita Bell of Odenton, Marybeth Volk (Spencer) and Ruthie Keep (Paul) all of Orem, UT, Leigh Ann Reeves (Jeremy) of Annapolis Junction, Willie Bell of Bowie, Molly Weller of Annapolis, and Erin and Thomas Shipley both of Arnold; fourteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Francis “Frank” Rafferty (Marilyn) of Lady Lakes, FL; and many devoted nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to Mary Ann’s Life Celebration from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday June 7, at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday June 8 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 North Bestgate Rd., Annapolis. Burial Lakemont Memorial Gardens, 900 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Ann’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1850 York Road Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093. Please sign the online guestbook below.