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In memory of

Mary Ellen "Mare" McDevitt Birch

Fort Myers, FL, USA

November 15, 1939 - March 14, 2020

Nov 15, 1939 - Mar 14, 2020

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Mary Ellen Birch went home to Jesus on March 14, 2020 at age 80. She was predeceased by her parents James and Anna, brothers James, Charles, Jack, and Thomas, and sister Nancy. She is survived by her husband Raymond, son Christian and wife Rachel, son Justin and wife Tasha, grandchildren Sean and Erin, and sisters Betty and Bernedette, and sister-in-law Theresa.

Mary Ellen was born to James McDevitt and Anna Redding on November 15, 1939 in Philadelphia, PA. As a child, she attended Transfiguration Grade School and West Catholic Girls High School where she played varsity basketball. She went into the convent in 1958 and subsequently attended Gwynedd Mercy College. Her first teaching assignment was at St. Michael's in Levittown, PA. After a year of teaching 106 first graders, she decided to focus on special education and taught at St. Barbara's and St. Katherine's Day School in Philadelphia. She received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from St. Coletta's College in Wisconsin.

Mary Ellen met her husband Raymond in 1964 while teaching at St. Katherine's Day School. They married in 1971 and went on to have two children, Christian and Justin. She continued to teach special education for 28 more years before retiring in 1999.

During her career she taught at:
1959: St. Michael's in Levittown, PA
1960: St. Barbara's, Philadelphia, PA
1963: St. Katherine's Day School, Wynnewood, PA
1971: Marple Newtown School District, Newtown Square, PA
1972: Mitchell Main Line Day School
1974: Martha Lloyd School, Troy, PA
1978: Carbon Lehigh IU 21
1999: Retired

Mary Ellen lived in various places in Pennsylvania including: Philadelphia; West Chester; Coatesville; Troy; Whitehall; N. Catasauqua; Fountain Hill, and Bethlehem. After retiring she moved to sunny Florida where lived in Cape Coral and N. Fort Myers.

While working, she encourage her two boys, Christian and Justin, to participate in sports and activities they loved. She loved vacationing with family and friends including ski trips in New England, summers at the Shore. She visited many places including Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado, and enjoyed many, many cruises to the Caribbean. She even got to swim with the dolphins in Cozumel.

Mary Ellen remained very active in her retirement. She served as a Eucharistic Minister in her church, St. Cecilia's, and also brought Communion to the sick in the hospital. She was always available for those suffering from addiction and visited those in prison.

She had a great love of animals especially her birds and dogs Boozer, Chrissy, Forest, Oreo and Cody. Her hobbies included playing the piano, reading, and knitting blankets for her grandchildren. She enjoyed going to the theatre and saw numerous plays and musicals.

Seizures, hypoglycemia, and pulmonary fibrosis weakened her physically but did not dampen her spirit and love of life. That life has not ended but merely changed.

A new day has come and she now enjoys eternal serenity. Live Aloha, Mary Ellen.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to St Katherine's Day School.

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