Marian Shriver Mcsherry

Marian Shriver McSherry, widow of James McSherry, died at home in Frederick on July 24, 2011. Mrs. McSherry was born to Clinton K. and Marian Carbery Macsherry in Baltimore, on February 21, 1926. She grew up on Merryman Court in Baltimore and spent her summers at Union Mills, the Shriver family homestead. She attended Noroton School of the Sacred Heart in Noroton, CT and Manhattanville College in New York. In 1945, her brother Bernard brought home a newly discovered distant cousin he had met in Washington, D.C. Lt. James McSherry, USN, from Frederick. They were married on January 5, 1946 at the Basilica of Mary Our Queen. From that point on, Mrs. McSherry was devoted to her family and her church. Mr. and Mrs. McSherry lived in Baltimore until 1948, when then moved to Frederick. They remained in Frederick for the rest of their 59 years of marriage, raising twelve children and being active in the parish of St. John the Evangelist and in the community. Mrs. McSherry was an active member of the Sodality at St. Johns, the Catholic Daughters, the Catholic Evidence League, Birthright, and the St. Johns Cemetery Committee. She was also active in the Maryland Historical Society and served on the Board of the Frederick Historical Society. She volunteered for St. Vincent de Paul and Select Seconds, the thrift shop operated by the Auxiliary of Frederick Memorial Hospital. She and her husband were on the Rectors Council at Mount St. Marys Seminary. They established scholarships for Catholic education at St. Johns Regional Catholic School in Frederick, St. Ignatius Loyola Academy in Baltimore and Mount St. Marys University. Mrs. McSherry was honored by Pope John Paul II in the bestowal of Pro Ecclesia in 1996 and she and her husband were the recipients of the 1982 Cornerstone Award for Catholic Education. In 1960 Mrs. McSherry was named the Catholic Mother of the Year. She loved the beach, was an avid golfer and an intrepid traveler. Mrs. McSherry is survived by her twelve children and their spouses: James & Mary McSherry of Erdenheim, PA, Carbery & John Caron of Lebanon, CT, Natalie McSherry of Baltimore, Cary & Clint Black of Lutherville, MD, Clinton & Frances McSherry of Durham, NC, Michael & Frances McSherry of Newton, MA, Kate & John Brigham of Hull, MA, Ann & Jim Chafey of El Cajon, CA, Madgie & Mark McGaughan of Comus, MD., Chris McSherry & Fred Hopkins of Baltimore, Molly & Brian Craig of London, England, and Paddy & Chuck Morton of Baltimore, as well as 30 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, as well her siblings: Clinton K. & Mary Eleanor Macsherry, John H. and Frances Macsherry, Charles O'D. and Louise Macsherry and Emily and Ed Belt, her brother Bernard S. Macsherry and his wife Barbara having predeceased her. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30am on Friday, July 29th from Saint John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 118 East Second Street, Frederick. Burial will follow at Saint Johns Cemetery, Frederick. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mrs. McSherrys memory to the McSherry scholarships at St. Johns Regional Catholic School, St. Ignatius Loyola Academy in Baltimore or Mount St. Marys Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, or the Methyl Sulfone Research Fund for cancer, c/o University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc. The Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, Frederick, is in charge of arrangements and condolences may also be shared with the family at keeneybasford.com.