Mardel North

Mardel North, 94, passed away in the loving arms of her daughter Mary Lou on October 22, 2021 in Arlington, VA. She was born on New Year’s Eve in 1926 in St. Michaels, MD. She was predeceased by her parents George C. North, Sr. and Matilda Krause North, her sisters Virginia North Shackelford and Doris Annalee North, and her brothers Lt Col Ernest J. North, USAF (ret.) and CMSgt George C. North Jr., USAF (ret.), and her husband of 32 years Leo Joseph Henn, Jr. She is survived by her sister Juanita North Guard and husband Dennis, of St. Michaels, MD, her two daughters Denise Annalee Girrier, of Bristol, RI and Mary Lou McEwan and husband John, of Alexandria, VA, her 4 grandchildren Tiffany Champion (James), of Siler City, NC, Bridgette Pagani (Devon), of Bristol, RI, Amy McEwan, of Los Angeles, CA, and John Lucas McEwan (Laura), of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 4 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews.

Mardel was a longtime resident of the Baltimore area, she then moved to Silver Spring, MD, and finally settled in Alexandria, VA. She graduated from Catonsville High School in 1944. She became a stenographer and later went on to complete coursework for a career as a medical secretary. In this role, she transcribed information for various medical journals for doctors at Johns Hopkins and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a Health Program Assistant, she provided administrative support for the Deputy Leader of Clinical Trials as well as two Medical officers in the NHLBI/ Clinical Trials Scientific Research Group. Her performance was commended while assigned to the Clinical Applications & Prevention Program of the Division of Epidemiology & Clinical Applications at the Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute of NIH.

A smart dresser with an eye for style, she loved travelling and attending Broadway musicals, opera, ballet, and concerts. She loved playing the piano and dancing. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and needlepoint. Mardel was an ardent churchgoer who devoted her life to her children. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. Her kind, selfless, loving and generous spirit will be missed by all.

A visitation will be held on Friday, November 12th from 6 to 8pm and a funeral service will be held the next day on Saturday, November 13th at noon at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home in Annapolis, MD followed by Entombment at Lakemont Memorial Gardens, Davidsonville, MD.