Mary O'Mara Putschi

Beloved wife of 20 years to Thomas J. O’Mara, and of 9 years to Henry Putschi; devoted mother of Jeanne O. Settar and her husband Milton, Karen O. Patteson and her husband Gary and Thomas. J. O’Mara; cherished grandmother of Shawn Settar and his wife Pamela, Scott Settar and his wife Laura, John Patteson and his wife Katie, James Patteson and his wife Maria and William Patteson; loving great-grandmother of Bailey, Austin, Paige, Brenna and Kendall Settar, Natalie and Alexandra Patteson; dear sister of John T. Walker and his wife Dolores and Matthew Richard Walker and his wife Suzanne. Also survived by nieces, nephews, other loving family and friends.

A voracious reader her entire life, Mary described reading as “a lifelong necessity”. From fairy tales to Nancy Drew to the classics in high school, she read at every opportunity. When her 3 children began college, she did so as well, attending night classes at UMD for nearly 10 years before receiving her BA in English.

Mary worked as an executive assistant for Bunker Ramo Corporation and Martin Marietta before moving on to the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. She retired and married Henry Putschi. They moved to Pennsylvania. There she dove into the life of a freelance writer. For ten years, she found success in having several of her romance stories published in Women’s World as well as a similar British magazine. She also contributed to the national Catholic magazine, St. Anthony’s Messenger, the Baltimore Sun Magazine, Catholic Digest, Chesapeake Bay and Rudder magazines. She once wrote, “I like to write stories or articles that make a difference and might help a hurting person out there, or at least to entertain them. I, too, struggle with having to expose my own soul, but I do believe that is key to reaching others”.

After the death of her beloved husband, she turned more to writing in her journals as well as poetry. She found solace and joy volunteering at a local library as a literacy instructor. Her love of books lead her to several book discussion groups. She spent many years participating and leading Bible study groups. She loved theater, art, music and gardening.

Mary will be remembered for her love of writing and literature, but most of all for the love she had for her family.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather at Stella Maris Chapel, 2300 Dulaney Valley Road on April 14th, 2023 from 10am -11am, where a Mass of Christian burial will begin at 11am. Interment to follow at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

Online condolences may be left at www.lemmonfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mercy Ridge Employee Appreciation Fund: Attn: Human Resources, 2525 Pot Spring Road, Timonium, MD 21093 (checks made out to: Mercy Ridge Residents Association. Memo line of check should read: Employee Appreciation Fund.)