Mary J. Robl

After a long lifetime of familial devotion and public service, it is with both sorrow and gratitude that we announce the passing of Mary Joseph Robl (née Knecht) on August 31, 2026. Her life was best characterized as a devoted wife, a loving mother to four children, and a proud grandmother and great-grandmother to twenty-one. She will be missed, but we find comfort in knowing that she will be joining her husband Louis in heaven.

Born in Baltimore on August 21, 1929 to Frank A Knecht and Lillian Knecht (nee Valentini), she was the fourth of five children who were raised as a tight-knit family in Halethorpe Maryland. Growing up, she especially loved spending time with her two sisters Clara and Lillian as well as her close friend Betty. During Mary’s high school years, she met Louis A Robl who was a good friend of her brother. The union of Mary and Lou turned into a lifelong love story, lasting for over sixty years. While women studying the sciences in the late 1940’s were not common, Mary earned her bachelor’s degree at The School of Pharmacy-University of Maryland Baltimore. Marriage in 1952, followed by birth of her first child in 1954, transitioned Mary towards being a full-time wife and mother, spending the better part of her life nurturing four children in Perry Hall Maryland. While family was everything to Mary, the other great devotion in her life was the Girl Scouts of Maryland. Over a near 50-year span, she served as scout troop leader, coordinator, district manager, and “cookie warehouse master,” providing guidance, spirit, and camaraderie to hundreds of young girls in the Baltimore area. She also shared a love of trains with her husband and both were devoted rail-fans, traveling “for fun” on trains both locally and throughout parts of the U.S. Their decades long service at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum was a labor of love. As Mary got older, her loving focus expanded to both her eleven grandchildren and later ten great grandchildren, all of which she adored. Though she spent the last 13 years of her life as a devoted widow, her focus was still on her family as she moved to New Jersey to be closer to three of her children and a host of devoted grandchildren. Her final days were a constant parade of family visits, sing-alongs, and trips for ice cream. Soon after reaching her milestone 97th birthday, she passed peacefully, holding her granddaughter’s hand. She is now resting with God.

Surviving family members include her four children Daniel Robl (with spouse Debbie Robl), Nancy Robl-Resh, Jeffrey Robl (with spouse Patti Robl), and Elaine Caton (with spouse Tom Caton). She is also survived by all of her grandchildren, including Allison Stransky, Doug Robl, Matt Resh, Kate Renninger, Kristen Resh, Nick Robl, Tyler Robl, Kelsey Robl, Bill Caton, Maggie Caton, and Sam Caton. We were blessed to have Mary get to know her great-grandchildren Max, Maddie, Luke, Owen, Dalton, Ben, Jonas, Leo, Zelda and Louella.

Relatives and friends may gather to celebrate Mary’s life on Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Schimunek Funeral Home 9705 Belair Rd. Nottingham, MD 21236. On Friday, September 18, 2026, all are welcome to attend her final mass and burial at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church (Fullerton) 8420 Belair Rd. Nottingham, MD 21236. Mary will be laid to eternal rest next to Louis, the love of her life for over six decades, at the cemetery at St. Joseph Church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Girl Scouts of Central Maryland https://www.gscm.org/en/support-us/donate-locally/donation-form.html proceeds donated in her name will go towards the renovation of Camp Whippoorwill).