Archive for May, 2019

Rose M. DeStafano (Age 94)

On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, of Silver Spring, MD. Beloved wife of the late Albert A. DeStefano, Sr.; daughter of the late Stephen and Julia Kuklis; mother of Paul J. (Chris), James P. (Debby) and the late Albert A. DeStefano, Jr.; sister of the late Steffie, Helen, Ernie and Benedict; grandmother of Mark DeStefano (Ginger), Laura Acton (Michael), Brian DeStefano, Katherine DeStefano, Stephen Farias (Tiffany) and David Farias (Alicia); great- grandmother of Luke, Conor, Finn, Sarah, Anthony, Cameryn, Carmine, Julietta, Celia and Elliott. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. A special note of appreciation to Holy Cross Hospice and her devoted caregivers. Rose was the center of her family and always went out of her way to surround them with love. Relatives and friends may call at Our Lady of Grace, 15661 Norbeck Blvd., Silver Spring, MD, Tuesday, June 4, from 10 to 11am; followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11am. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Helen Keller Services for the Blind, St. Francis DeSales School for the Deaf, Brooklyn, NY and Cleary School for the Deaf, Nesconset, NY.

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JOHN JOSEPH O’BRIEN (Age 61)

On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, John Joseph O’Brien of Silver Spring, MD passed away quietly surrounded by family and friends. He was the beloved husband of Teresa LaMaster; devoted father of Helen LaMaster O’Brien; much loved brother of Patricia O’Brien and Kathleen Manzo, and cherished by Kathleen’s husband Paul and their son Matthew.  John is also survived by close cousins Margaret (Tim) Quirk, William (Barrie) Drummy Jr., Michael (Deborah) Drummy, dear family in Ireland, loving in-laws, extended family, friends and colleagues near and far. He was preceded in death by his parents, born and raised in Ireland, Richard O’Brien of County Mayo and Noreen O’Connor of County Cork, who spent most of their married life in Hamden Connecticut. John devoted his life’s work to improving the quality of and access to healthcare, especially for vulnerable populations.  He played a critical role in the development and implementation of the Medicaid managed care program in Maryland. As an appointee in the Obama administration, he served as the Office of Personnel Management’s designated representative to the White House for its myriad responsibilities under the Affordable Care Act, ran the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and spearheaded establishment of the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Program. An avid cyclist, he coached the Montgomery County Special Olympics cycling team, of which his daughter is an enthusiastic member. Relatives and friends may call at Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 5949 Western Ave. NW, Washington, DC, Monday, June 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., where the Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 4, at 11 a.m. Interment follows at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Special Olympics of Maryland (www.somd.org).

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PATRICIA ANNE MILLER  
(nee’ Horstkamp) (Age 82)  

On Monday, May 27, 2019, of Wheaton, MD. Beloved wife of John Miller; mother of John Miller, Jr., (Karen), Diane Fielden (Tim), Barbara Serafini (Gian), grandmother of Jennifer Grier (Kevin), Lindsey Miller, Alexa Serafini, Nicholas Serafini; great grandmother of Dylan Grier. Patricia was the eldest of 10 children. She is also survived by eight siblings and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Sunday, June 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, June 3, at 11 a.m. at Collins Funeral Home. Interment following at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

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ROSALIE FANNING GRESH (Age 89)

On Monday, May 27, 2019, suddenly but peacefully at her home in Rockville, MD.  Beloved wife for over 61 years of John Gresh Jr.; loving mother of John (Carolyn) Gresh, of Potomac, MD, Robert (Lesslie) Gresh, of Berkeley Springs, WV, and Daniel (Margaret McMahon) Gresh, of Rockville, MD, and Grandmother of Theodore, Madeline, Nicholas and Christopher Gresh.  Also survived by thirty seven nieces and nephews.  Predeceased by three older brothers, Thomas, John and Raymond Fanning and their spouses, and five older sisters, Mary Woodward, Kathleen Farnsworth, Eileen Aukward, Annie West and Teresa Jackson and their spouses, and seven nieces and nephews. Proudly born and raised in Washington, DC, as the daughter of Irish immigrant parents, the late Thomas Fanning and Annie Garry Fanning. After graduating from the Sacred Heart Academy, she worked for ten years at the DC Register of Wills, then raised her family in Rockville, returning to work in 1977, working as a librarian at the FDA Medical Library in Rockville, retiring in 1984.  By her devotion and example, she was a source of great faith and unconditional love, with the gift of “gab” and a source of good Irish “craic.”  Relatives and friends may call at  Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Sunday, June 2, from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM. Mass of Christian Burial at Shrine of St. Jude, 12701 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville, MD, on Monday, June 3, at 10:30 AM.  Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery.   Reception immediately following Interment at Shrine of St. Jude.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington at www.catholiccharitiesdc.org.

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Richard A. Ruane (Age 62)

On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, of Silver Spring, MD. Beloved husband of Vicki Juneau Ruane; father of Maggie and Aidan Ruane; brother of Bill, Pat ,and Gary Ruane; uncle of Gary, Evan, Sean, and Carly Ruane (Fluehr). Also survived by seven great-nieces and nephews. Memorial Service will be held at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, on Friday, May 31, 2019 at 11 a.m. Inurnment Private. Memorial contributions may be made to Easter Seals, 1420 Spring Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

THEODOCIA PLASTER MORRISS (Age 94)

On Sunday, April 14, 2019, of Silver Spring, MD.  Born July 5, 1924 in Springfield, Missouri. She was the daughter of the late Henry Mansfield Plaster and Camilla [Ralston] Plaster. She was also proceeded in death by her brothers Henry Plaster, Raymond Irwin Plaster and her beloved friend Robert Naeny.

She is survived by her sons Robert Morriss, Silver Spring, and Raymond Morriss [wife Brenda], Cumberland, MD; grandmother of Regina Christiansen [husband Sam] and Nathan Miller [wife Stacey]. She is also survived by the Naeny sons, Robert Naeny Jr. [wife Susan], their children –Rob, Stuart [fiancé Allie], Margaret Gibbs [husband Darren], and two great grandchildren, Caoilinn and  Lilly Gibbs; Carter Naeny [wife Trennie] and their children –Dyson and Alden.  She is survived by nieces Elizabeth Srinivasan and Pam Chesney.

Memorial Service will be celebrated at Chapel at Riderwood Village, 3110 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, June 1, at 10 am.

John J. Manfreda (Age 73)

On Saturday, May 25, 2019, of Potomac, MD. Beloved husband of Rosemary Manfreda; father of Michele (Pooh) Strachan, Matthew (Laurie) Manfreda, and Brendan (Lisa) Manfreda; grandfather of Kendell, Sarah and JB Strachan, James and Nicholas Manfreda, Jack, Ryan, Molly and Annie Manfreda; brother of David and the late Richard Manfreda. Relatives and friends may call at the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel at Georgetown Preparatory School, 10900 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD, on Thursday, May 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 31 at 10:30 a.m. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.

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Rev. Dr. John William Cheek, Jr. received his heavenly reward on May 24, 2019.  Originally from Jersey City, New Jersey, John was the 3rd child of John and Odessa Cheek. During his years, he served in the United States Air Force (retired), school teacher in San Angelo, Texas and Howard County, Maryland – retiring as an Assistant Principal and was currently serving as Senior Pastor of Luther Rice Memorial Baptist.

Rev. Cheek leaves to continue his legacy his best friend, cheerleader and wife, Kathleen Ridley Cheek, Sisters Betty Holmes and Patricia Williams, Sisters in Love Karen and Karla Ridley, Aunt Jeanette Drayton, his chosen children – Dorian Ridley, Bernadette Wishom, Audrey Rhodes, Jennifer Jones and Michael Ward, 2 grandchildren Bernadette Davison and Ashley Rhodes and 1 great granddaughter Laiyah Davison along with a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Relatives and friends may call at Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church, 801 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD 20901 on Saturday, June 1st from 10 am to 12 pm, where Funeral Service will follow at 12 pm.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to GrassRoots in memory of Rev. Dr. John W. Cheek, Jr., at https://www.grassrootscrisis.org/ways-to-give/make-a-donation.

John Francis Veltri (Age 74)

On Saturday, May 25, 2019, of Silver Spring, MD. Beloved husband of Debra Veltri; father of Mary Lynn Veltri Forghani (Amir), and the late Robert Veltri; grandfather of Jake Veltri, Aria Forghani, and Ella Forghani. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Wednesday, May 29, 2019, from 7 to 9 pm. Graveside Service and Interment Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Casey House, www.montgomeryhospice.org/patients-families/why-montgomery-hospice/casey-house OR Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate

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John Steven Burkey (Age 70)

On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, of Kensington, MD. Beloved father of Jonathan, Nick, Sarah and Jeff Burkey; brother of Susie, Joyce and Nellie. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, Saturday, June 1, from 12 to 1 p.m. where the Funeral Service will follow at 1 p.m. Interment Parklawn Memorial Park.

ELEANOR WINSHIP MALONE  
“Ellie”(Age 77)  

On Wednesday, May 15, 2019, of Kensington, MD. Beloved wife of Dr. Winfred F. Malone. Also survived by many loving family members and friends. Ellie was a former President of The Women’s Club of Kensington and a longtime member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 10401 Armory Avenue, Kensington, MD, 20895 on Friday, May 31, 2019 at 11 am. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church or to the Yellow Ribbon Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 41048, Bethesda, MD 20824.

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CHARLOTTE LORRAINE HOGAN 
(Age 88)  

On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, of Finksburg, MD. Mother of Sharon Beecher (James), George Hogan (Karen), Larry Hogan (Karen); grandmother of Susan Cullen (Greg), Cara Bradley (Joe) Brenden Hogan and the late Kelley Wiseman; sister of Linda Best, Gary Summers, Karen Summers, Glen Summers, and the late William A. Summers and Joan Thiede. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Friday, May 31, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.; with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Interment at a later date.

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