Mary E. Gerlach

Mary E. Gerlach, 88, of Lincoln University, formerly of Drexel Hill, passed away February 23, 2025.

Born December 26, 1936 in Philadelphia, PA, she was a daughter of the late Gerald Joseph and Mary (nee Hesch) Conroy.

Mary was a graduate of Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls in 1954. She later earned her Bachelor’s degree in science from West Chester University in 1988 and decided to pursue a graduate degree from Villanova University at the tender age of 72. In 2010 she earned her Master’s degree in Liberal Studies.

Mary loved her family very much and was very proud of her children and her grandchildren, boasting of their accomplishments to everyone she met. And we were just as proud of her!

Mary was an avid reader and a member of the Kimmel Center where she regularly attended during the opera season and enjoyed the Philadelphia Orchestra. I don’t think any one of us remembers a time when there wasn’t an opera or classical music playing in the background growing up.

Later in life Mary discovered Legos! If we thought she had a library full of books, well she set out to best that record building Legos. Her favorites were the Architectural series, the bigger the better here! But she also enjoyed building the Star Wars robots and the Marvel series as well. Later, as it got harder for her to see, we would gladly jump in and help. Needless to say, every one of us now has a Legos habit too!

Mary was the beloved wife of the late Frederick E. Gerlach; loving mother of Mary Donahee, Jerry Gerlach (Kim), Kate Rosen (Chip), and Margo Gerlach; adoring grandmother of Nick Donahee (Linda Choi), Emily Rowley (Matthew), Tarin Gerlach, Madeline Rosen, Alex Rosen, and Jacob Eck; proud great-grandmother of Sadie Rowley, Grandt Gerlach, Grayson Gerlach, and Decklin Gerlach; and caring sister-in-law of Jay Shevlin. She was predeceased by her sister, Sophia Shevlin.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitation, 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, Friday, February 28, 2025, at St. Andrew the Apostle church, 3500 School Ln, Drexel Hill, PA 19026, followed by her Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Interment at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/pulfibfou/