Mary Carmel Auth

Carmel, as she was called, was born March 7, 1925 at home in D.C. She was the third of the six children born to Francis and Mary V. Herbert; her siblings: Herbie, Harry, Julie, Bernard and Baker. Carmel always loved to tell stories of her family, and their roots intertwined with the very beginnings of the State of Maryland.

Her memories recalled a child’s freedom of roaming Uncle Spearman’s farm at Rock Point, Charles County and time spent in rural St. Mary’s…her Mom churning butter and bathing her in a metal tub in front of the fireplace at the old brick house that had no electricity, but chamber pots for night use and an outdoor privy for day. She recalled picking up soft shell crabs from the wet grass and being perched on her Father’s shoulders watching the steamboat coming down the Wicomico. She was the youngest attending the one room school house. She never remembered not being in school and she developed a lifelong love of reading, especially mysteries.

Her idyllic childhood came to a halt on March 6, 1932, with her Mother’s death. Carmel had been staying with her Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Louie Knight during her mother’s illness and they decided to raise her along with their children, Laura and Louie, a tremendous kindness, but her roaming days were curtailed. She learned the urban life, to cook and do the prescribed chores. But one dream remained. One day she would have a home where her now divided siblings, family, friends and all would be welcome.

In time she met Bernard Auth, “Bernie,” Louie’s friend, who became the love of her life. They would marry on September 23, 1944, she 19; he 23. He had finished flight school with the Marine Corps as a Navy aviator for the F4U Corsair. He would be training for the invasion of Japan in Hawaii when the war ended in August, 1945. The following month their first child, Bernardette Marie, was born on September 18, 1945.

It was a difficult birth and Carmel would have what we call today post-partum stress. Bernie was called from his squadron to be with his wife. With caring, God’s grace and the transforming help of her mother-in-law, who took her as a daughter into her home, she was helped through 8 months of parenting. To her last days, Carmel praised “Mom” as she called her, with life-changing care. “All the other 11 kids put together were easier than the first” she would say.

Carmel became an iconic Mother…down-to-earth, practical, a great sense of humor, loving, truthful, meeting each of her children where they were. They were taught responsibility, values, caring and received a Catholic education. Her love for the ocean meant a week at the beach in summer with produce from farmer stands in route. Once, Carmel cut up 50 lbs of potatoes for French fries that week!

Her eye for antiques was evident in the China Closet, the Cherrywood family table and the cradle for her youngest child which grandchildren enjoyed. Her love of Nature attracted her to the large oak in our front yard, cementing the home we would cherish. Her dream of a home where everyone was welcome was realized: her brothers and families, her nephew, friends and even her sister, Julie, who spent her later 30 years with Carmel. A nephew called Carmel’s home “The Crossroads of the World” and a flagpole with the American Flag adorned the front yard. For Carmel was passionately patriotic and helped at the voting polls. She supported the Missions, especially the Indian ones, and would often ask

for a prayer as you were leaving her. Her faith believed in doing and, like St. Teresa’s words, “If you can’t pray and peel the potatoes, then peel the potatoes.”

All who knew her loved and appreciated Carmel. Bernie predeceased her in 1995, a real hardship. Bernardette and Carmel also passed away. Her surviving children: Linda (Otto), Stephen (Norma), Katherine, Gregory (Lisa), Laurie (Michael), Kevin (Teresa), Terrell (Sandy), Rosemary (Rudy), Kristina (Eric), and Dolores (Roc), feel blessed to have had their Mom through so many years and are glad she is in her heavenly home with so many who have gone before her.