Mary McCloskey Fenkel

Fenkel Mary McCloskey Mary McCloskey Fenkel of Gladwyne, PA and Stone Harbor, NJ passed away on November 19, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. She died of complications from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare brain disorder that Mary faced with her signature humor and quiet grit. Mary was born on October 1, 1950, in Wynnewood to Thomas D. McCloskey and Elizabeth Klock McCloskey, and raised in Wynnewood and Haverford with her brothers Tommy and Michael and sister, Patti. From a young age, Mary developed what would be a lifelong love of Irish setter dogs, singing music at the top of her lungs, and being the most fun and loyal companion to her husband, siblings, friends, children and grandchildren. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1968, where she was Captain of the Glee Club, played field hockey, and could be seen driving around with her friends in a blue Pontiac GTO convertible. She spent summers working in Stone Harbor and Avalon–selling wicker furniture and sportswear–and would return to the Shore every summer for the rest of her life. Mary attended Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois and graduated with a bachelor's degree from Rosemont College. Inspired by her sense of adventure and love of travel, Mary applied and was accepted into the Pan Am Flight Attendant training program but never enrolled. After college, she married Alex Wolfington in 1972 and they moved to New York City, where Mary worked as a bank teller in Brooklyn and appeared on the game show, "To Tell the Truth." After moving back to Philadelphia, Mary began her greatest adventure–becoming the Mom to Alexander Eustace in 1977, Elizabeth Ashley in 1978, and Patrick Thomas in 1979. Mary married Joseph J. Fenkel in 1987, combining her three children with his three children, Martha, Stuart and David. Mary gave birth to Caroline Ann in 1988–and she and Joe started to refer to their family as "Yours, Mine, and Ours" and "Our Magnificent Seven." Mary was at her best as a cheerleader and sidekick to her children, stepchildren, and eventually to her 13 grandchildren. She was a fixture in the bleachers at Harriton soccer, football and lacrosse games and in the mud at Caroline's three-day horse events–yelling the loudest, being the proudest, and always equipped with each child's favorite snack. Mary was known to her siblings and friends as "Mimi" and to her grandchildren she was called, "Granny," "Bunny" and "Shupa." She cherished picking up her grandchildren from school and filling the afternoon with simple adventures-Cracker Barrel, the pet store, the movies, the playground-and always ending up on the floor with them, playing games and wrestling. Mary was an accomplished athlete, playing on the tennis team at Philadelphia Country Club, and as part of a family doubles team with her daughter Ashley, where they were undefeated against younger challengers, her daughter Caroline and son-in-law, Mike Goetz. Mary and Joe traveled the world together, seeing the pyramids in Egypt, skiing in the Alps, visiting museums in Europe and Russia, and going on Safari in South Africa and Botswana. Mary traveled on special trips with her children and on girls' spa and skiing trips with her friends, always in the most fashionable mint green ski suit and learning how to say "Do you have Sweet and Lo for my coffee" in at least 10 languages. Whether she was making her famous "Egg McMommy" breakfast for her kids and a house full of sleepover friends, or hosting her iconic 200-person holiday bash-complete with faux snow and a glow of Christmas lights that could be seen from down the street-Mary made it all feel effortless at 1111 Waverly Road. She made a memorable impression at every wedding, being the first on the dance floor, hands in the air singing all the words to "I will Survive" and "We are Family." Mary's Christmas displays were the stuff of legend–a 20-foot tree in the living room, 27 embroidered stockings above the fireplace (one for each child, in-law, and grandchild), and a collection of three dozen Nutcracker dolls. Mary loved to celebrate Mother's Day and her Birthday–relishing every phone call, breakfast in bed from her kids, and displaying her cards and flowers for at least four weeks after. She tucked notes from friends and her children into her wallet, taped mementos and souvenirs from her grandkids above her desk and saved every photo and card. She returned love easily, was quietly generous with her time and attention, and gave everyone she met at least one side-splitting laugh. Mary is survived by her husband Joseph J. Fenkel, her children, Alexander E. Wolfington, Jr. (Donna), Ashley Wolfington (Michael Goetz), Patrick Wolfington, and Caroline Fenkel (A. Michael Blanche), and her stepchildren, Martha Langer, Stuart Fenkel, and David Fenkel (Shani Ankori). She is also survived by her Stepmother Patricia C. McCloskey, brother Thomas D. McCloskey, Jr. (Bonnie), sister Patricia Goberman (John), and brother Michael P. McCloskey (Holly). She is missed dearly by her 13 grandchildren, Ben Langer (Julia), Anna Fenkel, Andrew Fenkel, Daniel Fenkel, Juliana Wolfington, Alexandra Wolfington, Thomas Wolfington, Maxwell Wolfington, Nadav Fenkel, Nicholas Wolfington, Aya Fenkel, Samuel Wolfington, and Arthur (Ari) McCloskey Blanche. Mary was predeceased by her father, Thomas D. McCloskey, her mother Elizabeth K. McCloskey, and her beloved childhood nanny, Mary Day. She will also now be reunited with her Irish Setters, Gobbles, Gus, and Gladys, and dogs Gumdrop and Gabby. Relatives and friends are invited on Tuesday, November 25th, Visitation from 9:30 A.M. to 10:45 A.M. with Funeral Mass at 11:00 A.M. at St. John Vianney Church, 350 Conshohocken State Rd., Gladwyne, PA 19035. Burial will be private for the family. Mary absolutely adored flowers, so if you would like to send flowers, she would love to see the church filled with people and beautiful bouquets. "If you prefer to honor Mary in another way, donations may be made to the Cure PSP Foundation, a nonprofit supporting research and care for those with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy." McCONAGHY F.H., Ardmore mcconaghyfuneralhome.com