Mary Agnes Shoop, loved children
Mary Agnes Shoop, 75, of Georgetown, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford. She was born in Jasper, Ind., Dec. 8, 1939, daughter of the late August and Mary (Craney) Klem.
Mary was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and also foster mother to many children. Mary and husband Gary also welcomed two foreign exchange students into their home in Pennsylvania. Mary worked with children other than her own during most of her life by caring for them in her daycare, being a CCD teacher, fostering them, sponsoring them, being a Girl Scout leader, and even coaching boys baseball. She was a mother to animals as well, both domesticated and ones found and brought home by her children, herself or her husband...as if the animals knew right where to go.
Mary was high spirited, very adventurous and loved to travel the states, fish, especially deep sea fishing, swim and water ski. Mary and her husband Gary were on bowling leagues together and also played on tennis leagues (her favorite sport). Until Alzheimers crept up on her she was an avid player and expert at the game of Bridge, and passed that legacy on to her husband, children and grandchildren.
Mary loved family and life, and lived life to its fullest. She taught her children there is no such word as "can't;" you find a way. Mary was very strong willed and advocated for many great causes, i.e. Right To Life. Her high spirit and laughter is everything that you would expect from a "red headed" girl.
Mary has always been very active in the Catholic Church. As well as teaching children and adults religious education, she was also the choir director at a few parishes such as St. Edmond in Rehoboth Beach, and St. Martins in Indiana. She even volunteered her husband and his great voice to be a cantor for Mass.
Mary Shoop is survived by her loving husband of 31 years, Gary R. Shoop; five sons: Robert E. Brouse Jr. and his wife Sharona of Martinsville, Ind., Timothy C. Brouse and his wife Deborah of Indianapolis, Ind., Paul E. Shoop and his wife Rita of Cincinnati, Ohio, Timothy R. Shoop and his wife Tammy of W. Carrollton, Ohio, and Christopher A. Shoop and his wife Michelle of Mechanicsville, Va.; two daughters: Angela M. Bradley and her husband Keith of Plainfield, Ind. and Suzette D. Nikas and her husband Bill of Carmel, Ind.; 18 grandchildren: Shae Scott, Trae Brouse, Michelle Sitze, Brandon Brouse, Christopher Brouse, Drew Dickson, Jeremy Dickson, Justin Dickson, Abby Shoop, Suzie Shoop, Aiden Shoop, Connor Shoop, John Purvis, Amanda Smith, Amber Purvis, Jacob Bradley, Nicole Nikas and David Nikas; two great- granddaughters: Rowan Smith and Cadence Sitze; two brothers: Frank Klem and Jesse Klem; and three sisters: Rita Hollis and her husband Jan, Janet Rees and her husband Jim, and Sheila Duesser.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m., at Mary Mother of Peace Catholic Church, 30839 Mount Joy Road, Millsboro, where a viewing will be held before starting at 10 a.m. A viewing will also be held the night before Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Dodd-Carey Chapel, 307 North Bedford St. Georgetown. Interment will follow the Mass at the Delaware Veterans Cemetery, Millsboro.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Shoop's memory to Alzheimer's Association, Delaware Valley Chapter, PO Box 625, Georgetown, DE 19947, or Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
Please visit Mrs. Shoop's Life Memorial Webpage and sign her online guest book at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
