Mrs. Mary Louise Darrell

Mary Louise Darrell “Mary Lou" of Owings Mills, Maryland, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at the age of 86. Born in Baltimore on April 21, 1930, Mary Lou was the daughter of John and Marie (Rix) Schwartzkopf. She was the beloved wife of John Joseph Darrell, M.D and is survived by her children, John C. Darrell, M.D. and wife Elizabeth of York, PA; Linda C. Phillips and husband Scott of Crownsville, MD; Mark J. Darrell and wife Mary of Finksburg, MD; and her eight grandchildren: John, Krista, Jennifer, Emily and Elizabeth Darrell, Amy Phillips, Addison and Corinne Darrell. Mary Lou grew up in East Baltimore, where her family and social life were centered around Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church. While in high school she was honored to be the church’s May Queen in a procession that closed down the streets of Highlandtown and also met her future husband, John Darrell. Though their courtship lasted 10 years, their faith-based and love-filled marriage endured for 55 years. In the early years of her marriage, Mary Lou traveled up the east coast as John served in the Navy. In 1960 Mary Lou and John settled in Randallstown, Maryland where they resided for 45 years. During that time Mary Lou’s life was devoted to raising their three children and supporting the growth of the Holy Family Catholic Church & School. Mary Lou had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ. At Holy Family, she expressed and lived out this devotion in many ways. She was a member of Sodality and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, she regularly cooked for the priests and on occasion for, the now, Cardinal Keeler, she organized bus trips to raise money for the church, and also dedicated her time to personally decorating the church sanctuary for every holiday. She never missed a holiday. Mary Lou was also past president of the Women’s Club and the Maryland Art League, to which she submitted many entries as a talented, self-taught, oil painter. Her favorite scenes to paint were beach or water scenes. Though Mary Lou traveled the world with John, she loved sailing with her family all over the Chesapeake Bay. Her favorite vacation destination was Ocean City, Maryland where she would take her family every year to spend a week by the sea. The legacy of Mary Lou lives on in those who were touched by her loving heart, kind smile, and warm embrace. She served as a shining example of how faith, humility, love, and humor can carry you through every and any situation in life. She will be missed because she was loved, and she will be remembered always because she is simply unforgettable. The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 2, 2017 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, 6416 Sykesville Road, Sykesville. Funeral liturgy will be held on Monday, April 3, 2017 at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9533 Liberty Road, Randallstown. Interment in Old Holy Family Church Cemetery, Randallstown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the "MLD Old Church Cemetery Renovation" project, care of Holy Family Church, 9531 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133.

Mrs. Mary Louise Darrell

April 21, 1930 - March 29, 2017