Mary Ann McLaughlin
April 29, 1927 — March 5, 2015
Mary Ann McLaughlin
Mary Ann McLaughlin
Mary Ann McLaughlin, age 87, Danville, and formerly of Bloomsburg, affectionately known as MA, died peacefully on Thursday, March 5, 2015, lovingly surrounded by her family and the staff at Emmanuel Center For Nursing, Danville.
Mary Ann was born on April 29, 1927, in County Mayo, Ireland, the only child of the late Lawrence and Agnes (Loftus) Gavigan. At the tender age of two she moved to Northern Ireland to live with her grandparents, while her parents came to the United States to build a new life for their family. She joined her parents in New Kensington, PA at the age of five.
She graduated from New Kensington High School in 1945 as the class salutatorian. She went to work for the Aluminum Company of America, working in the research laboratory.
On October 4, 1947 she married John Milton McLaughlin, Jr. in Lock Haven and went to work at the Lock Haven paper plant and the Sylvania Electric Radio Tube plant and after they moved to State College, she worked for Penn State University, while raising their family of four children, and supporting her husband's return to college to earn master's and doctoral degrees.
In 1968 the family moved to Bloomsburg and Mary Ann enrolled at the former Bloomsburg State Teachers College where she earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education and was certified as a reading specialist in 1978. She taught in the Bloomsburg School District and later worked for the CSIU as an early intervention pre-school teacher. She stayed in contact with many of her former students and celebrated their graduations from high school and college.
Mary Ann was an excellent vegetable and flower gardener. She enjoyed being in the company of her family and many friends. She always was an avid walker and was known throughout Bloomsburg "as the lady who walked everywhere". In her late 50's she learned to swim, ride a bike, took up weight lifting and yoga. Together with her husband, John, she competed in the Senior Olympics, winning 17 gold and silver medals in speed walking.
In 1997 she traveled to Ireland with two daughters and a son in law to take a rigorous hiking tour of the Dingle peninsula.
Mary Ann contributed greatly to the community through her many volunteer activities, which included the Bloomsburg Women's Center, where she served on the board of directors; the Bloomsburg Public Library; the Laubach Literacy program; and tutoring English as a second language. Her efforts helped many working adults to learn to read, advance their job prospects and make a better life for their family. She helped a young Chinese woman to graduate from college and start a new life in the United States. Her actions modeled her belief that all people are created equal and she was generous with her time and talent. Her positive outlook on life influenced others and never waivered.
Surviving are four children: John L. McLaughlin, and his wife Susan, Danville; Kim McLaughlin, wife of Rob Traber, Bridgeport, Conn.; Catherine McLaughlin, wife of Ed Lawrence, Benton; and Nancy McLaughlin, wife of Robert Martynowych, Riverside. In addition, she is survived by five grandchildren: Matthew McLaughlin, Collin McLaughlin, Blaine McLaughlin, Katie Traber, and Dmitro Martynowych and two great-grandchildren: Riley McLaughlin and Nolan McLaughlin.
A memorial service celebrate the lives of Mary Ann and John M. McLaughlin, Jr., will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 1 p. m. in the chapel of the Emmanuel Center For Nursing, 600 Schoolhouse Road, Danville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: The Children's Museum, 2 W. Seventh St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815 or to the Bloomsburg Public Library, 225 Market St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Roat-Kriner Funeral Home, 1715 Bloom Road, Danville.
Mary Ann McLaughlin, age 87, Danville, and formerly of Bloomsburg, affectionately known as MA, died peacefully on Thursday, March 5, 2015, lovingly surrounded by her family and the staff at Emmanuel Center For Nursing, Danville.
Mary Ann was born on April 29, 1927, in County Mayo, Ireland, the only child of the late Lawrence and Agnes (Loftus) Gavigan. At the tender age of two she moved to Northern Ireland to live with her grandparents, while her parents came to the United States to build a new life for their family. She joined her parents in New Kensington, PA at the age of five.
She graduated from New Kensington High School in 1945 as the class salutatorian. She went to work for the Aluminum Company of America, working in the research laboratory.
On October 4, 1947 she married John Milton McLaughlin, Jr. in Lock Haven and went to work at the Lock Haven paper plant and the Sylvania Electric Radio Tube plant and after they moved to State College, she worked for Penn State University, while raising their family of four children, and supporting her husband's return to college to earn master's and doctoral degrees.
In 1968 the family moved to Bloomsburg and Mary Ann enrolled at the former Bloomsburg State Teachers College where she earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education and was certified as a reading specialist in 1978. She taught in the Bloomsburg School District and later worked for the CSIU as an early intervention pre-school teacher. She stayed in contact with many of her former students and celebrated their graduations from high school and college.
Mary Ann was an excellent vegetable and flower gardener. She enjoyed being in the company of her family and many friends. She always was an avid walker and was known throughout Bloomsburg "as the lady who walked everywhere". In her late 50's she learned to swim, ride a bike, took up weight lifting and yoga. Together with her husband, John, she competed in the Senior Olympics, winning 17 gold and silver medals in speed walking.
In 1997 she traveled to Ireland with two daughters and a son in law to take a rigorous hiking tour of the Dingle peninsula.
Mary Ann contributed greatly to the community through her many volunteer activities, which included the Bloomsburg Women's Center, where she served on the board of directors; the Bloomsburg Public Library; the Laubach Literacy program; and tutoring English as a second language. Her efforts helped many working adults to learn to read, advance their job prospects and make a better life for their family. She helped a young Chinese woman to graduate from college and start a new life in the United States. Her actions modeled her belief that all people are created equal and she was generous with her time and talent. Her positive outlook on life influenced others and never waivered.
Surviving are four children: John L. McLaughlin, and his wife Susan, Danville; Kim McLaughlin, wife of Rob Traber, Bridgeport, Conn.; Catherine McLaughlin, wife of Ed Lawrence, Benton; and Nancy McLaughlin, wife of Robert Martynowych, Riverside. In addition, she is survived by five grandchildren: Matthew McLaughlin, Collin McLaughlin, Blaine McLaughlin, Katie Traber, and Dmitro Martynowych and two great-grandchildren: Riley McLaughlin and Nolan McLaughlin.
A memorial service celebrate the lives of Mary Ann and John M. McLaughlin, Jr., will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 1 p. m. in the chapel of the Emmanuel Center For Nursing, 600 Schoolhouse Road, Danville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: The Children's Museum, 2 W. Seventh St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815 or to the Bloomsburg Public Library, 225 Market St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Roat-Kriner Funeral Home, 1715 Bloom Road, Danville.
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