Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Mary Elizabeth Key (Chase) Konohia, 83, of Fort Washington departed this life on June 3, 2011, at the Washington Home Hospice Center, Washington, D.C.
 Born April 4, 1928, in Pisgah, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Hackerson and the late Elsie Marie Key. 
Mary Konohia was a proud graduate of Bel Alton High School (1945), Bel Alton, Maryland, where she was Class President. Known for athletic, oratorical and academic excellence in school, Mary would go on to make history along with her longtime, dear friend, Susan Johnson Roberts, by integrating the clerical staff of the Federal Government in the 1950’s. After nearly three decades of service with the Interstate Commerce Commission, she retired in 1988. A life fueled by compassion and the well-being of others resulted in several lasting and mutually loyal friendships including high school classmates, Amy Scroggins and Edith Smith (deceased); co-workers, Susan Johnson Roberts (deceased), Francis Shirley (deceased) and Vivian Blanco, and her very dear friend Edna Meyers, to name a few. 
Known affectionately as “Babe” to her husband, “Mama”, “Ms. Mary”, “Auntie” or as the legendary “Granny”, the matriarch and first lady of her family “lived a sermon” on the beauty and wonderment of love, family and friendship, which are essential to the soul. As service unto her Lord, she will forever be cherished by those she left behind as a committed protector and provider, whether from the loved-drenched meals she prepared or the strength and tenacity she exuded.
 Mary was the beloved wife of Philip P. Konohia; the devoted mother of Deborah A. Morton, Eric F. and Gerald P. Konohia, Marilyn K. Taylor and the late Carolyn N. Lyles and Paul J. Chase, Jr. and stepmother of James Carlyle Chase. She is also survived by 3 sons-in-law, Thomas A. Lyles, James M. Morton, Sr. and Tracy D. Taylor; 2 daughters-in-law, Diana L. and Susan K. Konohia; the cherished grandmother of 15: Demond A. Lyles, Paul J., III and Enrique Chase, Kandy D., James M., II., and Jessica N. Morton, Philip K., Noah H. and Matthew I. Konohia, Mykel K.M., Jourdan K. and Sydni L. Konohia, Rico A.K. Konohia, and Miyah K. and Ryan K. Taylor; 14 great-grandchildren, Demond, II, DeMarco, Shaquila, Zion, Paul, Trent, James “Jay”, Kyla, Brielle, James III, Parrish, Sterling, Demonie and Delante, Jr.; sisters: Augustine Briscoe, Florence Lynch, Georganna Moore, Irma Proctor, Marion Aleshire, and Patricia Wheeler; brothers: Melvin Hackerson, and Leroy “Junior” Ford, many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Siblings who predeceased her are: Earl and Elmer Key, Viola Harvey, Fannie Datcher, and Margie Smith.
 Relatives and friends are invited to Mary's Life Celebration at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD on Monday, June 13 from 9am until time of service at 11am. Interment Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 10am at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD. Repast will be immediately following the services at The Knights Hall, 1633 Tucker Road, Fort Washington, Maryland 20744. 

Pallbearers will be: Demond A. Lyles, Paul J. Chase, III, Paul A. Wilson, Philip K. Konohia, Mykel K. Konohia & Ryan K. Taylor.

Mary Konohia

Mary Konohia

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