Mary Ellen Moore of Germantown, Maryland, died of pneumonia on October 31, 2024, at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, surrounded by her family, friends, and caregivers. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend; a brilliant teacher; and a fiery light to all who had the honor of knowing her.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church at 11701 Clopper Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. She will be entombed immediately after in the St. Rose of Lima Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mary Ellen’s honor to the Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary in Salisbury, Maryland, thejosephhouse.org.
Mary Ellen was born Mary Ellen Tyszka in New York City on December 7, 1943, to Ellen Maine Tyszka and Joseph Tyszka. She was raised by her aunt Lillian Tyszka and her grandmother Angela Tyszka. She was an excellent student and voracious reader. Mary Ellen attended St. Peter’s Girls High School in Staten Island, New York, graduated with honors, and won a New York Regents Scholarship to attend Notre Dame College in Staten Island. Mary Ellen graduated from Notre Dame in 1965 with a B.A. in political science and went from an all-women’s college to being the only woman in her graduate program, earning her Master’s Degree in political science from the State University of New York Albany in just one year.
In 1966, Mary Ellen married Robert (Bob) Moore, of Staten Island, New York. Mary Ellen adored her husband and considered him her best friend. Mary Ellen and Bob had five children – Tom, Joe, Meg, Dan, and Katie. Their house was usually loud with laughter, political debate, and their barking corgi, Daisy.
Mary Ellen taught history, philosophy, geography, religion, and ethics to generations of students at Connelly School of the Holy Child, Wheaton High School, Eastern Middle School, Churchill High School, and Wootton High School. She inspired her students to not only dig deep into these subjects, but to use their studies to change the world for the better.
Mary Ellen was a faithful Christian who served God with her many gifts. She was an extraordinary Bible study leader and teacher with the Omega Group at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Rockville, Maryland, St. James Episcopal Church in Potomac, Maryland, and St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also loved the St. Rose of Lima community. With open joy and deep conviction, she championed a Christ-centered church that welcomed everyone and advocated for equal ministry opportunities for women.
Mary Ellen Tyszka Moore is survived by her husband, Robert Francis Moore; her five children (Katherine Paulina Morgan, Daniel Francis Moore, Margaret Anne Parish, Joseph Robert Moore, and Thomas Hampson Moore); her three daughters-in-law (Jennifer Anne Moore, Meredith Blair Moore, and Amy Gambrill); her son-in-law, Warren Griffith Parish III; and her fifteen grandchildren (Tyler Jordan Morgan, Penelope Hampson Moore, Evelyn Leni Moore, Virginia Anne Parish, Ivy Parish, Jack Garner Moore, Cameron MacLean Moore, Lyden Elizabeth Moore, Patrick Joseph Moore, Alexander Gambrill Vincent, Elsa Gambrill Vincent, Eleanor Rose Moore, Zoe Gambrill Vincent, Joseph Hugo Moore, and Katherine Violet Moore).
Mary Ellen loved her family fiercely. One of her favorite places in the world was at her kitchen table, enveloped by her loud, interrupting family, as they argued about how to fix the world. While Alzheimer's disease ravaged her memory, it also stripped her spirit down to its loving essence; long after she was unable to remember names, she would still tell those around her that she loved them.
In her last years, Mary Ellen was cared for by a team of extraordinary women, especially Tewe Bekele, Agnes, Aster, Eden, Chu Chu, Hadiza, and Grace. Her family will be forever grateful for their work in allowing Mary Ellen to continue to live with joy and love even in her illness.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
11:00 - 11:45 am (Eastern time)
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Starts at 12:00 pm (Eastern time)
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church Columbarium
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