Mary Angela Courtney Luddy

Angie was born on October 8, 1918, in Altoona, PA, to Frank and Edith Courtney. She was one of nine children. She attended Altoona Catholic High School and Traphagen School of Fashion in New York, NY. Angie was profoundly impacted by her experience in New York City and the opportunity to attend one of the earliest schools of dress design in the country. Her mentor, Miss Traphagen, frequently stressed to her, “It is our job to make life beautiful,” a sentiment she embraced throughout her life.

Angie was married to her adoring husband Bill Luddy, Jr., on May 20, 1942, and together they raised eight children. Over the years, the family lived in Key West and Coral Gables, FL; Altoona, Harrisburg, and Willow Grove, PA; and Raleigh, NC.

Angie was known for her boundless energy, optimistic spirit, and sense of humor. Artistic by nature, she had a sewing and hat-making business in her home for over 25 years, designing bridal gowns, veils, and bridesmaid gowns. Angie was a member of the Sertoma Artists, where she painted and exhibited watercolors. She started the Knitting Club at Brookdale, and knitted baby hats for WakeMed Hospital on a volunteer basis until recently. She also enjoyed exercise, particularly swimming and walking.

A former member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Angie’s strong faith informed every bit of her life. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels for many years. In recent years, she was a member of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church.

Angie found her greatest happiness in her family. She shared her Irish Catholic heritage with them, and encouraged them to make the world a better place whenever and wherever they could. She learned how to use a computer at age 80, and wrote weekly emails to her grandchildren for many years. Angie was a voracious reader of nonfiction and biographies, often reading a book a week and sharing the life lessons she learned in her emails.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, and by their oldest child, Bill Luddy, III. She is survived by brothers Robert (Betty) and Donald (Mary Ann) Courtney, sons Robert Luddy (Maria), David Luddy (Sue), Stephen Luddy (Debbie), and Michael Luddy, and daughters Jeanie Silletti (Harry), Joan Drozynski, and Elaine Klonicki (Gary). She had 17 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Angie’s family would like to thank her primary caregivers and friends, Peggy Wade RN and Elsie McKeithan, along with all her other caregivers, for their loving support of Angie for many years. They are all true angels on earth. We also greatly appreciate the staff of Brookdale North Raleigh, which was her home for 14 years, the volunteers at St. Raphael’s who brought her weekly communion, and Transitions HospiceCare.

Visitation will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2817 Poole Road, Raleigh, NC, on Tuesday evening, January 24th, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, January 25th, at St. Joseph’s at 12:00 noon followed by the burial at Raleigh Memorial Park at 7501 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh. Memorial contributions may be made to Madonna House, 424 Rose Lane, Raleigh, NC 27610.