Marie Jean Lynch
Marie Jean Lynch, 91, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 8, at the Mandrin Center of the Hospice of the Chesapeake.
Jean was born and raised in pre-war Washington D.C., on 3rd St. SE on Capitol Hill, the only child of Edith and Michael Carrello. She would regale her children and grandchildren with stories of being chased away by security guards while roller skating with her childhood friends on the steps of the Supreme Court, or sneaking into the Library of Congress for a cold drink of water on a hot summer day. She attended St. Cecilia’s Academy and, in a lifelong point of pride, was a member of the first graduating class of women from Georgetown University in 1952. With her degree in Nursing and a desire for adventure, in 1954 Jean joined the Navy Reserve, commissioned as an Ensign in the Nursing Corps and was soon promoted to Lieutenant (jg). Then, as she would tell it with a laugh, “I was going to see the world and made it as far as Portsmouth, Virginia.” There she met a young Marine Corps Lieutenant, Ronald J. Lynch, at a New Year’s Eve party. They were married the following October, 1955, beginning a loving and devoted partnership that lasted until Ron’s passing in 1994. Jean and Ron were proud partners in his Marine Corps service, with her often raising their five children and managing the household on her own during his overseas deployments to Vietnam, Okinawa, and elsewhere. She would spend many summers in—and would grow to love—Provincetown, where Ron grew up. Jean was a gourmet Italian cook, as her children can well attest, and she loved the joy of gardening.
Jean ultimately retired to Annapolis, settling in Heritage Harbor, where she was delighted to reconnect with old friends from her childhood and develop many new, close friendships. She particularly loved traveling with the Questers and her weekly card games with the Bridge Broads. Jean will be remembered as a strong, resilient, generous, and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, always up for a funny story and a hearty laugh, ideally over a glass of good Italian wine. Finally, Jean would like to remind everyone that she was an ardent Democrat to the end.
Jean is survived by four of her children, their spouses, and grandchildren: James and Marcia Lynch and their children Colin, Shannon, and Patrick; Catherine and David Borman; Mary and Michael Barrett and their children Allison, Michael, and Jake; Patrick Lynch and Laura Porter, and their children Elena and Angelo. She was preceded in death by her eldest daughter, Faith Johnson, who is survived by her husband Robert Johnson and their children William and Anna.
Jean’s visitation will be held Saturday, April 17, beginning at 11am at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester St. Annapolis, MD 21401. The visitation will be followed by a service at noon and a reception from 12:30-2:30pm. To allow for social distancing all events: visitation, funeral service and reception will be held outdoors. She will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery, with her husband Ron, at a later date. An online guest book is available at www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com