Mary Potter - Obituary

ary Helen (Szerknis) Potter, age 92, passed away Monday, April 6, 2015, in Annapolis, MD, surrounded by family. She was born July 13, 1922 in Auburn, Illinois to Joseph Szerknis and Anna (Urbanski) Szerknis. She was the oldest of three. She graduated from Auburn Consolidated School where she ran track and played softball. In 1941, at the age of 19, Mary came to Washington, DC to work for the War Department at the Pentagon. She met John Patrick (Jack) Potter at a dance. They married in January, 1946, after he returned from the war. They lived in Missouri, Illinois, California and settled in Riverdale, Maryland, raising a family of seven. Jack lost his battle with cancer in 1988. Mary retired in the late 1980’s as Branch Secretary at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She continued to work, part-time, for several years at The Hospital for Sick Children. Mary spent her retirement traveling to visit family and friends, playing bingo, doing crossword puzzles, and watching her family grow. She played her lottery numbers religiously and won often. Her courage, faith, generosity of spirit and optimism were admired by everyone who met her. There was always room in her home and in her heart for one more. Her joy of living, cooking for the masses, and her sense of humor inspired much laughter and many smiles over the years. She will be deeply missed. Mary Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Annie Szerknis; her husband, Jack Potter; her son, Henry Potter; and her grandson, Robert (Bobby) Saum. She is survived by her uncle Charlie Urban of Florida; sisters, Joanna Miller of Arizona and Kate (Darrell) Skelton of Illinois; her children, Kathy Tula (Gene) Fitzgerald , Joanna Sanders, Jackie Grachik, John Potter, Maureen Potter, Ed Potter, Lillian (Dan) Potter-Saum, Becky (Rob) Labs; 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and many nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and adopted family. Family will receive friends on Friday, April 10 from 6 to 8pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater. A viewing will also be held on Saturday, April 11 from 9am until a Mass of Christian Burial is offered at 10am at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 14720 Annapolis Rd., Bowie, MD. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday April 21, 2015 at 2:30pm at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham, MD. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in her name to her home parish, St. Pius X Catholic Church (mailing address: 3300 Moreland Pl., Bowie, MD 20715). Please take a moment and sign the guest book at the link above.