Ada Maria Ketterling

Today we celebrate the life of Ada Maria Ketterling, a wife, mother, and friend who will be remembered for her warmth generosity, and sense of adventure.

Ada was born in a small town in Honduras in 1933 called Siguatepeque. As a young teen she moved to the capital city of Tegucigalpa where she completed her junior and senior high years at a Catholic girls’ school.

After graduation, she worked for a time in Casa Gross, the family store. Around 1958, she came to the U.S. to learn English at LSU. After a semester there, Ada and a friend moved to Washington, DC to continue their studies and in search of better opportunities.

She quickly settled into the city, staying in a tiny room at a boarding house called the Young Womens’ Christian home and attending Strayer College. After completing a secretarial course she began working at the World Bank.

Her future husband Virgil, originally from North Dakota, was also living in DC in 1959 and working at the State Department when they met. They were married June 11, 1960 at a historic Cathedral on Capitol Hill.

Ada and Virgil settled in suburban Virginia and had two children, Rosa and John. After leaving the workforce to raise her children, she returned to work, first at a law firm and then at the Organization of American States (OAS) where she was highly regarded.

Her career at the OAS in which she worked in various departments, the last being Legal Services, spanned 25 years. Ada enjoyed her work and was close to and respected by many coworkers.

Ada loved to socialize and was a great conversationalist. She had a great sense of humor and a quick smile. She also had a love of travel and visited many countries in Central and South America and Europe.

Upon retirement, she and Virgil traveled to many states and to scenic locations such as Hilton Head Island, Sedona and St. Augustine.

Ada enjoyed the arts and many hobbies including sewing, needlepoint, crochet, reading, daily crosswords and computer games. She also loved going to the theater and movies and having lunch with her friends.

Ada is survived by her husband, Virgil Ketterling; daughter Rosa Ketterling who is married to Adam Goldman; and son John who is married to Sharon Perales.