Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Donald (Donnie) Lee Tucker, 70, a lifelong resident of Anne Arundel County, passed away on December 12, 2021 after a lengthy illness.  Born in Cheverly on December 30, 1950 to Elbert S. and Amy R. Tucker, Donnie was raised on the family farm in West River where he farmed with his father until he started his own construction company which he had for 30 years until his health started to fail.  Donnie loved riding his trike, classic cars, fishing with his kids and grandkids, traveling with his wife, Judy and just spending time with his family and friends.
Donnie is survived by his wife of 51 years, Judy Tucker; his children, Donald, Jr. of Parsonburg, Tracey Walker (Billy) of Denton, and Brooke Tucker (Kenny) of Harwood;  his sisters, Betty Cole of Tolar, TX, Dianne Buckler (Jim) of Huntingtown, Elsie Cora of Indian Head, Peggy Brady (John) of Prince Frederick, Pauline Brady (Billy) of Galesville, Bonnie Brady (Mike) of Lakeland, FL, Beverly Marshall (Doug) of Lakeland, FL; his brother, Thomas Tucker (Mary) of Faulkner, MD; his grandchildren, Aaron Tucker (Taylor), Shelby Tucker, Brittany Walker (Paul), Brandon Walker (Mackenzie), Devin and Brianna Hamer, and a great grandson, Brayden.
Besides his parents, Donnie was preceded in death by his brothers, Elbert S. “Sonnie” Tucker, Jr. and William W. “Bill” Tucker.
Relatives and friends may call on Wednesday, December 15 from 2-4 and 6-8PM at Kalas Funeral Home and Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, where a funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 16 at 9:30 AM.  Interment will follow in Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.  


Lewis J. “Lew” Mason, Jr., of Odenton, MD, passed away peacefully at his home on December 11, 2021 at the age of 76.  Lew was born on March 6, 1945 in Washington, DC to the late Lewis and Dorothy (Robey) Mason. Lew grew up in Hyattsville, MD and attended Northwestern High School.  His professional career began in the computer technology industry as a programmer and sales engineer. His knowledge and personal skill set eventually led to the start up of Data Base, Inc., followed by Comsite Inc.   More recently, his entrepreneurial spirit and experience inspired him to open Plaza Del Mercado BW Cheese Shoppe and Cloverly BW Cheese Shoppe in Silver Spring, MD, then onto a successful 30-year career in the restaurant industry as a Ledo Pizza franchise owner and operator.  Additionally, Lew served as the chairman and founder of the Ledo Pizza Golf Classic Tournament, benefiting Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Lew was an avid golfer and will be remembered by many good buddies for their golfing adventures. Lew also loved boating and navigating the Chesapeake Bay with his beloved wife, Joan. He was a member of the West River Yacht Club and served two terms as Commodore. Lew “Poppy” “Pop” took great joy in spending time with his children, especially his grandchildren. You could always find one on his lap or by his side. Family gatherings always included much laughter and plenty of delicious food.     
Lew is fondly known by his friends and family for his true compassion and love for others.  He would find joy in any circumstance and always demonstrated great strength, especially when facing adversity.   His sense of humor was well known by all. He is especially remembered by many for his hearty laugh, ability to tell a funny joke, passion for life, and his sincere interest in all people.  
Lew Mason was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Dorothy (Robey) Mason; sister, Sandra Mason; and daughter, Meredith Mason.  He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Joan M. Mason; daughter, Kimberly L. Diddia (Michael) of Woodridge, IL; son, Curtis H. Noland (Sarah) of Huntingtown, MD; and grandchildren Meghan, Lauren, Rebecca and Aaron Diddia and Sandra and Claire Noland.
Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Lew’s life at a memorial gathering on Thursday, December 16 from 4 to 6 PM at Kalas Funeral Home and Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, where a memorial service will be held on Friday, December 17 at 11:30 AM.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Lew’s memory may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD  21122 <a href= "https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now/" >Click here to donate online</a> or to Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital, 750 E. Pratt Street Suite 1700
Baltimore, MD 21202 or online <a href="https://secure.jhu.edu/form/children">Here</a>

Online condolences may be offered using the Memories tab on the left side of this page. 


Luigi Flaim (87) passed on December 11, 2021, at Washington Hospital Center after a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure and cancer. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Amelia Flaim. Luigi is also survived by his four children, Remigio, Rita, Graziella, Anna (Danny-spouse) and 3 grandchildren (Olivia, Jessica, and Nicholas). He is survived by his younger brother, Isidoro Flaim. He was proceeded in death by his mother Liduina, father Isidoro, and sister Oliva. 

He was a retired cabinet maker and was the Treasurer for Local 1694 Union. He was an avid churchgoer and often assisted in the preparation of masses, and whatever the church required of him. His love for church started in his hometown of Tregiovo, Italy where he was born June 12, 1934. He was an altar server as a child and often would ring the church bells to announce mass was starting. He came to the United States in 1967 and worked diligently to provide for his young family back in Tregiovo. He returned home in 1970 and brought his family to America on June 12, 1971. 

His love for his craft allowed him to work on many great projects, including woodworking for the Nation’s Capital Building, White House, and other great buildings. He also assisted in the woodworking that can be found on the altar area at St. John’s the Evangelist Church in Clinton MD. He also had a real knack for gardening and could often be found late Spring-early Summer working on his garden. He had a love for planting tomatoes, green peppers, green beans, and his favorites (iceberg lettuce and kale).

He had great love for socializing and could always be found in a corner telling stories of the old days, when he was younger. He loved his family the most, and always wanted to encourage people to do what was right and the best for them. He also loved to cook and could be found making Polenta and Home-Made Apple Strudel in the Fall and Winter months. His favorite sayings were, “What can I do? and “Su con Coraggio!”

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to St. Johns the Evangelist Church, 8908 Old Branch Ave, Clinton MD. 20735.

Online condolences may be shared at Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory - Oxon Hill, MD (kalasfuneralhomes.com).


John A. Cunningham, 76, passed peacefully on Thursday, December 9, 2021. A resident of Edgewater for 26 years, his passions were boating, fishing, and just being on the water. He is preceded in death by a son, Johnny and a brother, Edward “Buddy” Cunningham. John is survived by his wife of 33 years, Jill Cunningham; a sister, Carol Cunningham of Lexington Park; two stepchildren, Jessica Marinaccio and Andrew Jack; eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be private. 

Rosemary M. Filippelli, 94, a resident of Annapolis, MD for six years and previously of Harwood, MD, died on Wednesday, December 8 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. Born on October 7, 1927 in Washington, DC to the late Paul and Rose Messink, Rosemary was a graduate of Immaculate Conception High School. She was a homemaker and was active as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and in various church committees and organizations at Mt. Calvary Catholic Church in Forestville and Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville. Rosemary enjoyed making porcelain dolls, cross-stitching, quilting and sewing. She is survived by her husband of seventy-three years, Larry Filippelli; her children Larry Filippelli, Jr. and his wife, Michelle, of Fredericksburg, VA, Francis Filippelli and his wife Lisa, of Edgewater, MD, Dee Orth and her husband Vince of Lyons, KS and Maryann Penn and her husband Taras Vizzi, of Stewartstown, PA; her brother, Bill Messink of Fredericksburg, VA; her grandchildren, Michael, Bradley, Rich, Laura, Jen, Brandi and Jessie and her 10 great-grandchildren. Friends are invited to celebrate Rosemary's life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Sunday from 3 to 6 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Holy Family Catholic Church Chapel, 826 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD 21035 on Monday, December 13 at 11 am. Entombment will follow at the Resurrection Cemetery Mausoleum in Clinton, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society at Holy Family Catholic Church. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.

Carol Ann Wirt Burke

Carol - wife, mother, friend, teacher, writer - left us on December 7th after a battle with cancer. She was woman of many accomplishments, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilson College in 1953 and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University/Union Theological Seminary in 1954. Carol had a lifelong love of music, art, and especially the written word, writing multiple travel articles and short stories and poems, some published. She taught grade and high school English for many years at West Nottingham Academy and at Annapolis High School, then college level courses at Anne Arundel Community College.

Carol was involved in her community, founding the Heritage Harbour drama club and orchestrating its performances. She volunteered as a docent at Londontowne and sang in many choirs throughout her life. She gave generously to many charities, the ASPCA being one - she loved animals.

We’ll remember Carol as a strong, independent woman with a soft side. She remained lifelong friends with many high school and college contemporaries, arranging reunions enjoyed by all that attended. One of her favorite television programs was Jeopardy. A note to a friend who also enjoyed the show ended with:

Answer: Life and Love and Friends.
Question: What is good and to be cherished always?




Friends may call at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745 on Sunday, December 12, 2021 from 2 to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, December 13, 2021 at 10 a.m. at St. Columba Catholic Church, 7800 Livingston Rd. Oxon Hill, MD, 20745. Interment Washington National Cemetery. 

On Tuesday, December 7, 2021; wife of the late William G. Briggs; mother of Fred and Greg Briggs and the late Tom and Bill Briggs She is also survived by other relatives and friends. US Marine Corps Honors will be held at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Highway Cheltenham, MD, 20623 on Monday, December 27, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. 

James W. “Jimmy” Duckett, 82, and a lifelong resident of Anne Arundel County, passed away at his home in Davidsonville, MD on December 6, 2021.  Born in Annapolis on October 3, 1939 to Frank S. and Edith M. (Ward) Duckett, Jimmy was a licensed electrician for more than 60 years.  He also retired after 20 years of service with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department and was a life member and past Chief of the Woodland Beach Volunteer Fire Department.   Jimmy loved to rebuild and restore old Chevrolets of the 1950’s era, he also enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening, traveling and eating crabs.  
Jimmy is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jean Duckett; his children, Dawn (Mac) Connell of Edgewater and James (Terri) Duckett, Jr. of Shady Side; his sister, Alice Lyons of Florida; grandchildren Joseph Connell, Andrea Worley, Jessica Abell, Matthew Costa, Jacob Costa and Nicholas Hoffmann; and two great grandchildren.  Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters and a grandson, Marcus Foster.
Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday, December 14 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Kalas Funeral Home and Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, where a funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 15 at 10 AM.  Burial will follow in Lakemont Memorial Gardens, Davidsonville.  In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Jimmy’s name may be made to the Woodland Beach Volunteer Fire Department, 529 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD 21037.  


Mary Xakellis Chapman passed away on Monday, December 6, 2021, from progressive heart failure.  Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Lula (Psitos) and Christopher Xakellis.  Mary grew up in a Lancaster-based, Greek immigrant family and the whole family would work hard at their family-owned restaurant.   However, she had a passion for reading and learning about the world around her.  After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Millersville University, she embarked on a career of teaching math in Prince Georges County, Maryland.  She started a family of four with her first husband and father to her children, Peter Serlemitsos, in 1954.  After divorce, she would marry the late Thomas Chapman and live many happy years together in Greenbelt, Maryland.  She was a devoted teacher, and she would add a master’s degree to her professional resume.  She was always trying to help her students inside and outside the classroom, especially underprivileged members of the community.  She was actively involved in her Greenbelt community and strived to stay involved with community affairs well after retirement.  She was always involved with her children and grandchildren, playing a key role in their upbringing and development.  She was loved and will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her beloved brother George Xakellis.

She is survived by her two children, John Serlemitsos (Deborah) and Louann (Serlemitsos) Day (Frank); her sister Dolores (Xakellis) Perezous; her grandchildren Maritsa (Day-Serlemitsos) Stephenson (Roger), Virginia Day, Jasmine (Serlemitsos) Wilding (Isaac), Katie (Serlemitsos) Christopher (Jake), Jessica (Day) Shepherd (Jordan) and Peter Serlemitsos II. Mary has also been blessed with 6 great-grandchildren, so far.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Mary's life on Monday, December 13, 2021, from 4 pm to 7 pm and again on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, from 11 am until her funeral service begins at 12 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037. Interment will be private.

If you wish to view the service online <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87487859124?pwd=QTFFNE5hRjQrTGRBdFdlMHNtajQwQT09"> Use this link</a>

In lieu of sending flowers, memorial contributions in Mary's memory can be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Attn: Membership Department, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403,        <a href="https://secure.cbf.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1502&mfc_pref=T&1502.donation=form1">online here</a> or the National Alliance on Mental Illness, PO Box 49104 Baltimore, MD 21297, <a href="                  https://donate.nami.org/give/197406/#!/donation/checkout?utm_source=globalNav&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=DonationTracking&c_src=WEBDG">Online Here</a>

Relatives and friends are invited to Mark's Life Celebration gathering on Thursday, December 30, 2021 from 11 a.m. until the start of the memorial service at 12 p.m. at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745. 

Angelica C. Cruz, 57, of Fort Washington, MD, passed away on Saturday, December 4, 2021.  Angelica is survived by her husband, Allan Cruz; children, Krystel Ferrer and Mark Anglo Cruz.  

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Angelica's life on Monday, December 13, 2021 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at  KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, Maryland 20745. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held be on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 10:00am at St. Columba Catholic Church, 7804 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, Maryland 20745. Interment will be private. 

Please leave the family condolences by accessing the "Memories" tab.  

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 8 at 2:30 pm at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Church Circle, Annapolis, MD. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.

John L. Heibel, Jr., DDS, a 47-year resident of Annapolis, MD and previously of Erie, PA, passed away on December 3, 2021 at the age of 86.  Dr. Heibel was born on January 6, 1935 in Manti, UT to the late Naomi and John Heibel, Sr.  He graduated from Gannon College, University of Pittsburgh Dental School and Georgetown University School of Orthodontics.  He retired as a Captain from the U.S. Navy after serving 20 years in the Naval Dental Corp as an Orthodontist.  Afterward, Dr. Heibel continued his Orthodontics practice in the Annapolis area.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing and collecting duck decoys as well as beer and train memorabilia. Dr. Heibel was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  
 	Dr. Heibel was preceded in death by his loving wife, Mary Ellen in 2009.  He is survived by three sons, John (Beth) Heibel of Montrose, CO, James (Patricia) Heibel of Easton, MD and Jeffrey Heibel of Cocoa Beach, FL; one daughter, Mary (Steve) Landess of Annapolis; three brothers, Conrad (Diane) Heibel of Thornton, IA, Richard (Mary) Heibel of Orrtanna, PA and Joseph Heibel (Larry Dormer) of Chambersburg, PA and 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
            Friends are invited to celebrate John’s life with his family from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8 at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD.  Mass of Christian will be offered at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N. Bestgate Road, Annapolis.  Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.  
	In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities at: www.catholiccharities-md.org
	Online condolences may be offered using the Memories tab on this page.

Doris Charlotte McCullough
December 14, 1923 – December 3, 2021

Doris Charlotte McCullough passed away peacefully on December 3, 2021, just a few days before her 98th birthday and 70th wedding anniversary. Born on December 14, 1923, in Rockford, Illinois, she was the oldest of three children born to Victor M. Sandberg and Effie Amanda Borg Sandberg. Doris grew up in a Swedish family and loved all the Swedish traditions shared by her large extended family in Minnesota.

Following graduation from high school, Doris worked for a short time in Minneapolis before moving to San Diego, California. After briefly returning to Minnesota, where her Auntie Helga taught her to drive on the streets of Minneapolis, she felt the call of sunny California and moved to San Jose, where she worked at the Naval Air Station in Alameda. It was there that she met the love of her life, Carlos McCullough, a naval aviator and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1949.  

Together as a Navy family, Doris and Carlos traveled the world with their only child, Carleen. Doris especially enjoyed the time spent living in England and in Norway and the opportunity to visit Oland, her family’s home in Sweden. After living in Europe for several years, the family settled in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she worked for the Virginia Beach public school system for almost twenty years.  Doris and Carlos continued to travel, and the family always enjoyed the stories from their adventures around the world.

Doris was a gifted artist and writer; her creative spirit and wonderful sense of humor touched all who knew her. She was an avid reader, baseball fan, generous friend, and perfect mother. She made the best cookies….Swedish, of course….She was loved as Grandma Doris by her granddaughter, Mary Charlotte Doherty Jones, and grandson Sean Patrick Doherty.  She loved being Great Grandma Doris to Charlie, Teddy, Jamie, and Rory.

A recent resident of Annapolis, Doris is survived by her husband of almost 70 years, Carlos d’Arcy McCullough, her sister Marjorie Davis of Ukiah, CA, daughter Carleen Charlotte Doherty (John) of Annapolis, MD, granddaughter Mary Charlotte Jones (Brent) of Villanova, PA, grandson Sean Patrick Doherty (Katia) of San Francisco, CA, great-grandchildren Charles Stephen Jones, Theodore d’Arcy Jones, James Thomas Doherty, and Rory Patrick Doherty, and many other family members and friends whom Doris loved. Hers was a life well-lived.  Tusen Takk!

Please leave a condolence for the family by signing the guestbook at the Memories tab on this page.

Krista Jean Card, 59, of Edgewater, MD, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on December 3, 2021.  Born on April 11, 1962 in Michigan to Herbert and the late Carol Graham, Krista attended college and after several jobs in management and hospitality she eventually pursued a career as a contractor with the US Department of Energy.  She enjoyed baking and playing the lottery and bingo.  Krista had a passion for watching true crime stories and she loved Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel.  A savvy shopper, she also enjoyed a good sale and was a devotee of LuLaRoe fashions.  

In addition to her mother, Krista was preceded in death by her son, Eugene Andrzejewski.  She is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Joseph W. Card; two daughters,  Kristina Card and Sarah Jones, both of Edgewater; her father, Herbert Graham; brother, Steve Graham and sisters, Brenda Wright and Linda Adams; and five grandchildren, James, Amy, Maximus, William and Alexis.

Friends are invited to celebrate Krista’s life with her family on Sunday, December 12 from 1 p.m. until her funeral service begins at 3 p.m. at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the <a href="https://support.lupus.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30040a?idb=501457346&df_id=4202&4202.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&NONCE_TOKEN=609F30BFFDE9F63BFEEF7A9EA7DB57AE&s_subsrc=button_nav_donate&s_src=lupus.org&4202_donation=form1">Lupus Foundation</a>.

Online condolences may be offered using the Memories tab on the left side of this page.

Paul E. Feldman, 78, of Severna Park, MD, passed away on Thursday, December 2, 2021. Born on December 28, 1942 in Washington, DC to the late Max and Dorothy Grossner Feldman, Paul graduated from Randle Highlands Elementary School and Anacostia High School and served in the U.S. Air Force in Riverside, CA for four years. Upon returning to the DC area, he began working in naval intelligence while completing his bachelor’s degree in oceanography from the George Washington University. Paul enjoyed a lengthy career in the intelligence community, ultimately becoming a member of the Senior Intelligence Service in 1996. After retiring in 2002, he worked at Raytheon for several years. In his spare time, he enjoyed hiking and biking and was a lifelong baseball fan, particularly of the Washington Senators/Nationals. Paul is survived by his wife, who was his high school sweetheart, Kathryn Harrison; his children, Richard (Mercedes Marquez) Feldman of Reston, VA, Kenneth (Anne) Feldman of Arlington, VA and Gregory (Rachel Moxham) Feldman of Vancouver, Canada; his siblings, Sara Smith and Mark Feldman; his grandchildren, Olivia, Andrea, Ilo, Angela, Uku and Cal; special family member, Armando Teisseire and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Ruby. Paul was preceded in death by a brother, David Feldman.  Friends are invited to celebrate Paul’s life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Sunday, December 5 from 1 pm until his funeral service begins at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Jonathon Russell, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287. 

Allen Francis “Al Herd, Big Al, Pops” Herdeman, 66 and a resident of Churchton, died December 2 at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick. He had been ill for 25 days and died of Covid-19 after spending 17 days in the hospital.

He was born April 8, 1955 in Cheverly to Ernest Duncan and Doris Holland, both of whom are deceased. During his life, Big Al worked for Hostess Cakes, Sunbeam Bread, Schmidts, Atlas Mortgage Company and then Martins Potato Bread.  He proudly served his country in the US Marine Corps from 1972 until being honorably discharged in 1976.   He was a member of Chesapeake Health and Fitness gym and he enjoyed fishing, playing with his grandchildren and watching and playing sports.

Big Al was preceded in death by his son, Eric Herdeman; a brother, Mike Herdeman, and a sister and her husband, Judy and Bruce Polen.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Debbie Herdeman; his children, Kevin (Beckie) Herdeman of Millersville and Alex Herdeman of Churchton; his siblings, Rick (Sherri) Duncan of Pennsylvania and Gail (Vinnie) Calvarese of Southern Maryland; Eric’s fiancée, Diana Dickens; his grandchildren, David “Bubba” Cammarata, Eli Herdeman, Ethan Herdeman, Elsa Herdeman and Nora Herdeman; his sister in law, Linda Herdeman and his nephew Brad Loche.

A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, December 18 from 1-3 pm at Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD.

Please take a moment to leave a condolence for the family by clicking the "memories" tab on this page. 


Please check back for full obituary.

Online condolences may be offered using the Memories tab on this page.

Joan (Joanie) S. Broderick, 84, who spent most of her life in Colton’s Point and later moved to North Beach, MD, died of natural causes on December 1, 2021 at the Gilchrist Hospice in Columbia, MD. 

 Joan Carol Smithson was born November 1, 1937 in Washington DC.  She was stricken with polio as a baby but never let that keep her from living a full life for 84 years.  Joan attended different schools as her family relocated several times.  She finished up her education at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) in Fisherville, VA where she received her high school diploma.
 
Joan worked for the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) for many years until she retired.  At HEW, Joan met and fell in love with John T. Broderick, Jr. They were married in 1977.  Initially, they lived in West River, MD and later moved to Colton’s Point where they lived next door to Joan’s mother, Ethel, on St Patrick’s Creek. They thoroughly enjoyed life on the water and entertained friends and family, especially on Father’s Day and St Patrick’s Day.
 
Joan had many hobbies: drawing, painting, cake decorating, ceramics and helping people. She especially loved dogs and had many, even up until her last days.  She used her computer to assist people in finding their lost animals.  She also loved people and made friends easily.  She captivated them with her smile, sense of humor, and the way she put them at ease.
 
Joan was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John, who was the love of her life; her son, Mark; daughter-in-law, Elissa; John’s son, Lowell, and a great-grandson, Tommy.  She is survived by John’s other three sons, Steven, Edmund, and Leigh; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her brother, John; sisters, Ann and Mary and their many children and grandchildren; and Elissa’s son, Scott and his son and daughter.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate Joan's life on Friday, December 10 from 10 am until her funeral service begins at 11:30 am at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joanie’s memory to the Calvert Animal Welfare League, Southern Maryland Spay & Neuter, or the animal rescue of your choice.  An online guestbook is available by visiting the memories link on this page.




Robert Henry Berger (aka pops, pop-pop) born 10 November 1926 in Brooklyn, NY, son of Henry Otto Berger and Lillian Annunziata Sena, joined his beloved wife of 43 years (Barbara Ann Neary) on the 29th of November 2021. Growing up on the waterfront of Freeport, he loved taking his home-made outrigger canoe to Jones beach. This love of water naturally led him to join the Navy, 8 months shy of his 18th birthday (like many of his generation) to fight in WW2, serving in the Pacific theater. After the War, he finished high school and used the GI bill to get an engineering degree while working summers as a lifeguard at Jones beach. There he met, courted, and married Barbara Ann Neary in 1953. He enjoyed boating, fishing, and golf, and “tolerated” my mom’s love of antique shopping where he was given endless refinishing projects, his favorite hobby. Their journey together led them to live in North Merrick, Syracuse, and Goshen NY. He is survived by his son, Robert Steven Berger (Cathleen Shields), granddaughters Caitlin Shields Berger, Meghan Berger Pocius, Kerry Elizabeth Berger, Sister Lilyan Misel, Niece Suzanne Misel, Nephews Richard Ennis and Stephen Misel, Great Grandsons Nathan Robert Pocius and Alexander Jacob Pocius, as well as many cousins, most notably Patricia Neary Ennis. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to <a href="https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=32112&32112.donation=form1&s_affid=83&_gl=1*1u53uk9*_ga*Mzc1NjI2MzgwLjE2ODM2Mzk3MTQ.*_ga_QSFTKCEH7C*MTY4MzYzOTcxMy4xLjEuMTY4MzYzOTgxMC4wLjAuMA..*_ga_9JTEWVX24V*MTY4MzYzOTcxMy4xLjEuMTY4MzYzOTgxMC42MC4wLjA.">Alzheimer's Association</a>, 502 Washington Avenue, Suite 300, Towson, MD 21204.

Online condolences may be offered using the Memories tab on this page.

Beloved Husband, Father, Pap Pap, and Brother, Richard Alan Krogel, of Davidsonville, Maryland passed away Sunday, November 28, 2021, peacefully surrounded by his loving wife and children after a 4-year battle with cancer.

Richard was born July 30, 1953, in Wheeling, West Virginia to the late Richard Paul Krogel and Mary Jane Krogel.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Science in 1998 from the University of Maryland with over 44 years of experience in the field of Information Technology Systems Engineering, Systems Administration, Security, and Maintenance.  In his early years at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), he began his career as an Electronic Specialist for the GSFC Network Operations Control Center. His next assignment was to support GSFC Mission Operations as Senior Electronics System Technician where he redesigned a NASCOM line interface, maintained and provided support to three spacecraft control centers.  He would later be assigned to his last position at NASA GSFC Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network (STDN) Program as Senior Principal Systems Engineer supporting the Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF). Before he departed from NASA GSFC, he was awarded the NASA First Shuttle Flight Achievement Award, for his contributions to the first Space Transportation System Mission and was honored to view the launch of “Columbia” from Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, Florida. His career path would take him to the Internal Revenue Service for Northrup Grumman as the Chief Engineer/Architect of the Dite labs for the Modernization Program, an initiative that managed and developed services today such as Tax E-file and IRFOF (Refund Status) systems until he retired in 2017.

Rich loved life and lived it to the fullest.  He enjoyed living in Harbor Hills and served as the Beaches and Piers and the Yacht Club Commodore for several years where he volunteered his time to help make the community what it is today.  He enjoyed the ocean and spent many hours sunbathing, dipping in the ocean, listening to the waves, watching sunrises and sunsets with his black coffee in hand, and occasionally seeing dolphins from his Ocean City condo balcony. When he wasn’t giving his puppy Sammy of 18 years treats, he enjoyed listening to music, researching ways to upgrade his TVs, computers, stereos, or anything that was related to new technology.  He enjoyed trips to Costa Rica with his buddies and Friday night barbecues. His greatest accomplishment and joy were his family and being a Pap Pap.

He is survived by his wife Claudia; his children Eric, Patrick, and Ashley; sister Victoria Preston; mother-in-law Emma Mendoza; daughter-in-law Ashley Krogel; sister-in-law Adriana Tucker; brother-in-laws Tim Tucker and Walter Preston; niece and nephew Stacey Davis and Benjamin Towsend; his grandsons Austin and Lucas, and many dear friends.

A memorial service/celebration of life will be held on December 9, 2021, from 3:00– 7:00 p.m. at the Harbor Hills Yacht Club, 1 Carson Cove, Davidsonville, MD.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Richard's name may be made to the American Cancer Society  https://donate3.cancer.org/?campaign=search&gclid=Cj0KCQiA15yNBhDTARIsAGnwe0W_xkxpQnjVTCqW17FsTCaLMtCxocm4PwP-6NCAf9aQV5Zf95pjb2gaAifFEALw_wcB

Please take a moment to sign the family's online guestbook by visiting the memories tab on this page.

Katherine Wilckens McDonald, known by most as Kate, was born to Dr. John and Mrs. Peggy Wilckens on Father’s Day, June 16, 1985 in San Diego, CA.  She and her 2 older brothers, CJ and Matt, lived a typical Navy Family life, with moves from San Diego, to Guantanamo Bay Cuba, to Indianapolis, to Camp LeJeune, NC (Operations Desert Shield/Storm) and then to Hawaii. In Hawaii, Kate was joined by 2 adopted siblings from Russia, Andy and Tanya. Upon moving to Annapolis in 1997, she attended Annapolis Area Christian High School where she was an outstanding student and vicious outside hitter in volleyball. Kate obtained her Bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, majoring in Kinesiology.

In Annapolis she met her Soulmate, Andrew McDonald, a Physics major at the Academy (class of 2007) who also rowed for the Heavyweight Crew Team. Everyone knew that the relationship had become serious when Kate changed her plans to start her professional life in San Diego and stayed in Annapolis until Andrew moved to flight school in Pensacola, FL.  They were married in 2008 at the USNA Chapel and soon began their life together in Pensacola, where Andrew was attending Naval Flight Training.  While wrapping up flight training, Kate gave birth to Elizabeth.  From the care and patience that constantly exuded from her, anyone could tell that she was made more complete by the title “mommy.”  After Elizabeth joined them, they had moved to Guam, with deployments to Iraq and the West Pacific. Out there, Kate earned the title of Navy Spouse, birthing Sean while Andrew was deployed, managing the home, and even staying sane through the support and love of some of her greatest friends in this life. 

The next 2 sets of orders were to Norfolk, VA, which included more deployments on the USS Bataan.  Even with all these moves and changes, Kate not only supported the family, drove the social calendar, managed a 100-year-old home, and cared for the kids, she also carried and welcomed Patrick.  Again, the love spread and shared by Kate continues to yield fruit to this day.  After Andrew picked up Department Head orders, Kate and Family relocated to Atsugi, Japan, with more West Pacific deployments.  During the brief stay there, Kate made the best of it - as she always did.  Kate swiftly found a group of supporting and loving friends from the various spouse's clubs of the commands on base.  Despite the growing fatigue and other symptoms, she volunteered as a part of the base’s Catholic Faith Community.  Throughout her life, Kate continued her drive to support and care for those who needed it most.  

While in Atsugi, Kate developed a significant cough, and was med-evaced to Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, MD. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma. The Oncology teams at Walter Reed and Johns Hopkins gave Kate an aggressive Immuno-therapy treatment regimen. Kate took that opportunity to buy and renovate a beautiful home in Amberly, situating her Family for a stable life ahead. Throughout her fight with the cancer that would ultimately take her life, she remained hopeful, loving, patient, and forgiving to those around her. And during this time, Kate was lifted up and encouraged by her many, many friends. On November 14th, Kate was admitted to Walter Reed with acute shortness of breath, necessitating intubation. 14 days later, with no further interventions indicated, Kate was extubated and was blessed with a grace-filled moment with her Family.

Kate was the consummate Navy wife, Mom, daughter and sister. She was a great source of help, consoling words, inspiration, and grace to so many of her friends. She was the toughest individual, shouldering at times what appeared to be an unbearable load - yet she would do it with ease.  She lived a gallant, focused 2 years with her treatment, making the most of EVERY opportunity with her family and friends. Much like St Theresa of Lisieux, she did small things with great LOVE.  She is survived by her loving husband, Andrew, her children, Elizabeth, Sean, and Patrick, both her parents, and all her siblings. 

Kate’s funeral mass will be celebrated at <a href=https://www.google.com/maps/place/St.+Andrew+by+the+Bay/@39.0311444,-76.4505422,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b802aee4fad709:0x7a1c3250657c9117!8m2!3d39.031221!4d-76.4485319?hl=en">St. Andrew by the Bay</a>, 701 College Parkway. Annapolis, MD 21409 on December 17, 2021 at 9:00am (EST).  A livestream will be available for those unable to attend.  Interment will follow, at 11:00am, at the United States Naval Acadamy Cemetery. There will be a reception following the burial at a location TBD.

If you’re planning to attend Kate’s services, please let us know by filling out the link <a href="https://forms.gle/a5Y9T4PqU4d5eUfV9">HERE</a>. You can also RSVP by sending an email to Amanda at <a href="mailto:amanda.haupt@outlook.com?subject=RSVP to Kate's Service">amanda.haupt@outlook.com</a> or calling/texting Christina at 202-763-1938.

COVID Disclaimer for those attending services: Due to the global dispersion of those who love Kate dearly, please plan on masking for the Funeral Mass.  No masks will be required for the outdoor burial.  Finally, if you are unwell or symptomatic, please do not attend.  The funeral mass will be live-streamed and your prayers/thoughts will be felt by those present.

Online condolences may be made using the Memories tab on this page.

Louise G. Tilch (Beavers)

Frankford, Delaware 

Louise G. Tilch formerly of Fort Washington, Silesia, Maryland passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2021. Louise was born in Clinton, Maryland on June 11, 1924. She spent most of her entire life in the Southern Maryland area. Louise retired from the Board of Education as a school bus driver. She is survived by her son, Donald E. Tilch; Grandchildren Angela M. Bunyea (Tilch), David E. Tilch; 6 Great-Grandchildren and 7 Great Great-Grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, George T. Tilch, daughter, Brenda M. Hall (Tilch) and all of her siblings. 

Interment is at St. Mary's Catholic church in Piscataway on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 1:00pm. A celebration of life will be announced later.


Obituaries

Donald Tucker

Lewis Mason, Jr.

Luigi Flaim

John Cunningham

Rosemary Filippelli

Carol Burke

Manolo Panginen

Marjorie Briggs

James Duckett

Mary Chapman

Mark Johnson

Angelica Cruz

John Gebhardt

Dr. John Heibel, Jr.

Doris McCullough

Krista Card

Paul Feldman

Allen Herdeman

Donna Adkins

Joan Broderick

Robert Berger

Richard Krogel

Kate McDonald

Louise Tilch