Maryann Clark Maria

Maryann Clark Maria has jumped to her last conclusion. With a poetic flourish on a life well lived, she passed at sunrise on October 6, 2024. A native of Pittston, Pennsylvania, Maryann was the eldest of seven children born to Helen Jordan Clark and James A. Clark. After graduating at the top of her class from Pittston High School in 1953, she went on to graduate from Marywood University in 1957 with a double major in English and home economics. In November of 1958, she married her high school sweetheart, Cataldo "Ky" Maria, her cherished husband for almost 66 years. Since 1965, the Marias have lived in Clarks Summit where they raised their eight children.

She taught both English and home economics for 30 years for the Abington Heights School District, primarily at the middle and high school levels, and obtained her Master's Equivalency degree. She believed in the power of language and the written word. She was honored to be a positive female role model to her daughter and sons, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins, and the thousands of students that she reached. She was unabashed in her example of a strong, well-read, articulate, and confident woman. She was beloved for her appreciation of her students' creativity and varied learning styles. She left her mark on those she mentored. Her optimism and positive attitude made each person with whom she connected feel truly special.

She was a lover of books, poetry, travel, nature, and friendship. She was an avid reader and shared her love of fiction and poetry with her children, siblings, friends, and students. She traveled far and wide to visit family, friends, and wondrous landscapes; her adventurous spirit led her to parasail, climb ancient ruins, and ride in a hot air balloon. Creative and practical, Maryann was a talented seamstress, an excellent baker, and a devoted practitioner of tai chi. Nearly 30 years ago she and some friends started Current Events, a book club with a twist—each member read and shared a different book on the same subject such as women in politics or artificial intelligence. The club morphed into monthly gatherings of friends sharing food, drink, and most importantly, ideas and camaraderie.

She is survived by her husband, Ky; her siblings and their spouses, Patricia Clark Gibson, Philip Clark, William and Margaret Clark, Jordan and Mary Therese Clark, and Arthur Clark; her sister-in-law, Jo-Anne Maria; her brother-in-law, Joseph Mozeleski; her eight children and their spouses, Mark C. and Cynthia Smith Maria, Joseph P. Maria, Sr., Darren W. and Lisa Davis Maria, James A. and Lisa Hinkle Maria, Colleen M. and Gene Walacavage, Michael A. Maria, Eric N. and Holly Gritman Maria, and Ky M. and Karen Townsend Maria, who will miss her dearly. To her 16 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren she will always be fondly remembered as their Mae Mae. She was preceded in death by her brother, James Clark; her sisters-in-law, Blanche Clark and Patricia Maria Mozeleski; and her brother-in-law, Joseph Gibson. Tragically, she was also preceded in death by her grandson, Joseph P. Maria, Jr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 11 at 9:30 A.M. at Our Lady of the Snows, 301 South State St, Clarks Summit. Friends may pay their respects at Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State Street, Clarks Summit on Thursday, October 10 from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Abington Community Library, 1200 West Grove St., Clarks Summit, PA 18411 or by using the online donation form at lclshome.org/donate/donate-now/support-abington-community-library/.