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MARY SONNENSCHEIN Obituary
MARY ANNE SONNENSCHEIN (Age 81)
On May 26, 2013, in Silver Spring. A native Washingtonian, Mary Anne was the second of twelve children in the Green family of Brookland. A former missionary of Our Lady of Africa, she went on to work in education and government. She was predeceased by her husband Hubert, parents, Philip and Dolores Green, brothers, Joseph, Peter, Patrick, Daniel, sisters, Bernadette Rogers, Teresa Rosser and Jane Gilroy. She is survived by her brother, Michael and sisters, Cecelia Pincus, Agnes Cammack, Dolores Milmoe, and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial mass will be held Saturday, June 22, at 12 noon at Our Lady of Grace Church, 15661 Norbeck Boulevard, Silver Spring, MD. Donations in her memory can be made to So Other May Eat, Holy Cross Hospice, or to a charity of your choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for MARY SONNENSCHEIN
Sponsored by Dolores Milmoe, sister.
Mary Jackson
July 20, 2013
Aunt Mary Anne, What can I say, the first time I met her, I remember her stories she would tell. I was very young. I will always have the memory of the dragon story she told. God Bless you and keep you. You will always be in our prayers and our hearts.
Chris Milmoe
July 18, 2013
I had the good fortune of spending time with my Aunt these last four months, for which I am grateful, as it gave me the chance to appreciate her and her life.
Teresa McNamara
July 17, 2013
My deepest sympathies! It's nice to know there is someone else in Heaven rooting for us!
Ruth Spellerberg
July 1, 2013
Mary Anne was a good Leisure World friend. We enjoyed many happy restaurant trips together. She made me laugh telling me that laughter was good for the soul.
Miss you and love you. Ruthie
Jerry Molloy
June 23, 2013
Cousin Mary Anne shared with me a great interest in our family history. My great-grandfather's brother, Edward Orison Green, Mary Anne's grandfather, left Long Island, where I was born and raised, for Maryland. Although I had known about her family from her cousin in Virginia I did not meet Mary Anne until 2006 and visited again in 2008 along with calls and e-mails. I am so grateful to Mary Anne in helping me add much of her missing branch to the Green family tree. I only wish I had met her earlier… She was truly a special person and will be greatly missed.
Karen Killmon-Doucet
June 23, 2013
Mary Anne was one of the sweetest, kindest people I have ever met, always thinking about how she could help others. I met her 5 years ago when I stopped into Bedford Court near Leisure World for my weekly visit with my piano teacher and Mary Anne was there to give Barbara communion. Mary Anne excitedly told me how she was Barbara's piano student when she was about 7 years old and how happy she was to have seen Barbara's name on the communion list. What a wonderful person Mary Anne was! Her presence lit up the room! Mary Anne's family, friends and acquaintances were very fortunate to have known her.
June 23, 2013
Eulogy for Mary Anne Sonnenschein June 22, 2013
Our Lady of Grace Church
Good afternoon. My name is Steve Milmoe. I first met Mary Anne Sonnenschein in 1970 at the wedding of my brother, Greg, to her sister, Dolores. Over the ensuing years, our paths crossed many times and I grew close to Mary Anne and her husband, Hubert.
I asked myself “What would Mary Anne want me to say about her life?”
That she was the oldest daughter of Philip and Dolores Green's twelve children?
That she was a White sister in Africa for 20 years, and published a guide for young girls in Malawi?
That she spoke French as well as at least one African dialect?
That she had a full-bodied laugh that would echo throughout a room?
That she was a principal in a poor catholic high school in Los Angeles in the mid-1970's?
That she taught in the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program at St Camillus for 5 years?
That she taught adults in the Montgomery County Literacy Program for several years?
That she took care of neighbors who couldn't shop, or had no family?
That she searched for over 3 decades and finally found the grave of her grandfather, her mother's father, Joseph Pranke, last summer in Soldiers Home.
That she was drawn to the great women mystics of the Church such as Hildegard of Bingen and Julian of Norwich?
That she loved Hubert Sonnenschein, got up at 3 a.m. every morning to reset his dialysis machine, and was playing his favorite music the night he passed away?
That she loved the Catholic Church…the People of God?
It's time to rest, good and faithful servant. Your eyes are clear and sparkling—no more macular degeneration. You walk with a bounce once again--free of arthritic pain . Now you sit among those who went before you--Hubert, your mother and father, Joe, Bernadette, Teresa, Peter, Patrick, Jane, and Danny. And your beloved Sunshine sits in your lap, waiting to be petted once more.
Mary Adams
June 22, 2013
Aunt Mary Anne was a very kind and
generous person. May she and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. A big thank you to all those who
made it possible for her to remain at home...what a beautiful gift!
June 22, 2013
June 22, 2013
Terri Kennedy
June 21, 2013
My mother, Mary Lou Smith, will miss her. Mary Ann's many random acts of kindness will be remembered by many.
Pat Green
June 19, 2013
Aunt Mary Anne, may you rest in peace. You are now with much of the family in heaven. Please give my father a hug for me. You were the one who inspired me and got me started researching the history and ancestry of our Green family. You will be missed!!
Aunt Mary Anne with her brother and two sisters 10/2012
Susan Skinner
June 19, 2013
Rest in Peace Aunt Mary Anne. I have found memories of you and of Uncle Hubert. I know you are now reunited. You will be missed.
Sr. Christine Kresho
June 19, 2013
Mary Anne was a wonderful support to me personally, and a generous volunteer at Our Lady of Grace Church. I miss her. She lives eternally in the embrace of her loving God.
Dolores Green Milmoe
June 19, 2013
Mary Anne was my eldest sister and godmother. Although she left home when I was four to join the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, I well remember receiving her letters, writing to her, and learning of her work there. (There was once a python in the outhouse!) At the time, she was Sr. Joanella. Upon her return to the States, the family was able to reconnect with our sister personally. She was always mindful of others' needs and after retirement from the government, continued to be very active, visiting many in nursing homes, volunteering as an English teacher, teaching scripture, supporting many charities and individuals. My son Christopher, niece Loretta and I were pleased to assist in her final months with the wonderful folks from Holy Cross Hospice Care. She was able to die peacefully at home as she wished.
June 19, 2013
June 19, 2013
Ron Manderscheid
June 17, 2013
Mary Anne was a very fine human being with very good values. Her heart was always in the right place!
We will miss her contributions to the mental health field, to missionary work, and to work with the elderly.
We extend our sympathy to Mary Anne's entire family.
Ginnie Kiesewetter
June 17, 2013
Mary Anne Sonnenschein was beloved by her students as their Literacy Council of Montgomery County volunteer tutor. She gave many hours to her students, and we are very grateful for her hours of service. Our sincere thank you to her and to her family. Ginnie, ESL Coordinator, LCMC
Gloria
June 16, 2013
Loving memories and prayer will continue to help you through this difficult time.
June 16, 2013
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME.....WITH DEPEST SYMPATHY.
CHARLEEN JACKSON
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