Aidan Surlis

Aidan Surlis died February 5, 2023, at the age of eighty-nine. The family takes great comfort that Aidan died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family. Catherine and Aidan were married for 51 years, Catherine predeceased Aidan by 4 months and 4 days. Aidan was born in Shroofe, County Sligo, Ireland on October 10, 1933 to Terence and Nora (nee Corcoran) Surlis. Aidan was the 9th of 11 children, and always shared a special bond with his twin sister, Sr. Phyllis Surlis.

In the spring of 1959, Aidan was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest and joined the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society. For the next ten years Aidan served the needs of the people of Kenya, Africa and he became fluent in Swahili. Aidan worked in famine relief and established and ran a school for those displaced by the famine.

Although Aidan enjoyed and found fulfillment in his mission work in Kenya, he decided that he wanted to marry, and have a family of his own, and decided to leave the priesthood. Aidan left Africa and went to New York, where he taught high school at Holy Rosary and earned a Master’s Degree from Manhattan College in Theology and Philosophy.

Aidan and Catherine met in New York and they married on July 5, 1971. As a newlywed, Aidan worked at the Queens Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (QSPCC). He found the work heartbreaking as he was experiencing firsthand the suffering of families in crisis. Aidan spoke of always doing the best he could to help families stay together.

Soon after they were married, Aidan and Catherine welcomed their three children to the world, Cathy, Aidan Jr., and Tara. While in New York, Aidan and Catherine embraced the opportunity to be a foster family to a young boy, Gerry. In 1976 Aidan and Catherine moved their family to Crofton, Maryland and he began his career as a Realtor. As they graduated college, Cathy, Aidan Jr. & Tara each joined Aidan in real estate and together they worked as ‘Team Surlis’. Cathy’s husband, Chris, and Tara’s husband, Tim, joined Team Surlis too. Aidan and Catherine made many life-long friends over his thirty plus years in real estate, and he especially loved his time working alongside his family.

Of all the roles in his lifetime, Aidan always said his favorites were being a husband, father, and grandfather. He took great pride in each of his children, and he loved each of their partners, Chris, Mandy and Tim as his own. Becoming a grandfather in 2004 was a dream come true, Aidan cherished his ten grandchildren, and spent most of his time with them.

Aidan was a joyful person with an infectious smile and twinkle in his eye; he loved people and he always wanted to help where he saw a need.

Aidan is predeceased by his wife, Catherine (nee Henze) and his siblings: Nan Noone, his brothers: John, Terence, Tommy Joe, Chris, Roland, Fr. Paul and infant brother, Philip Aidan.

Aidan is survived by his twin sister, Sr. Phyllis Surlis (County Mayo, Ireland), sister, Carmel (nee Surlis) McCallan (County Wicklow, Ireland), children: Cathy (Chris) Gress, their children Jack, Tom and Kate Gress, Aidan (Mandy) Surlis, their children Ben, Penny and Sean Surlis, Tara (Tim) Kelly, their children Nora, Paul, Adele and Luke Kelly, as well as fifty-one nieces and nephews, many in-laws, and deeply loved friends.

Funeral arrangements are as follows: The viewing will be Wednesday, February 15th, 2- 4pm and 6- 8pm at Beall Funeral Home (6512 NW Crain Hwy (Rt. 3 South), Bowie, MD, 20715.

The funeral will be Thursday, February 16th, 11am at Saint Elizabeth Seton Parish (1800 Seton Drive, Crofton, MD 21114).

The funeral will be live streamed at www. facebook.com/SetonLiveStream

Please view and sign Family Guest Book at www.beallfuneral.com