Mary Long Kovarik

Mary Elizabeth Long Kovarik, wife of John Joseph Kovarik, passed away peacefully in the presence of her husband and two daughters on Thursday February 4, 2021 in her residence at Harmony Hall in Columbia, MD. 

Mary and her twin sister, Margaret, were born on March 13, 1947 to their parents John Henry Long and Dorothy Eugenia Ryan Long in St. Louis, MO. After graduating from Nerinx High School in 1965 Mary earned her Bachelor of Arts in English at St. Louis University. While a student at SLU, she met her husband, John, at a foreign languages mixer. The two married on December 23, 1968 and were happily married for 52 years. Their marriage brought many travels and adventures including living in Texas, Massachusetts, and Taiwan before settling in Glen Burnie, Maryland where they raised their two beloved daughters, Heather and Anne.

Mary firmly believed in the importance of education, dedicating many years of her life as an English and reading teacher at St. Jane Frances in Pasadena and Monsignor Slade in Glen Burnie and later earning her master’s degree in Education from Loyola University. An incredibly faith-filled Catholic, she spent much of her time and energy to service of others through religious education, Eucharistic ministry, and supporting several charity drives through gifts and her time and talents. Mary was an accomplished seamstress, making many beautiful pieces of embroidery, quilts, and other crafts that she readily shared with her friends and family. After retiring from teaching, she devoted herself to her grandchildren by providing childcare and encouraging them through their education and activities. Even through physical hardships in the last ten years of her life, Mary and John continued to be a strong presence in their children and grandchildren’s lives and dedicated service to others.

She is survived by her husband John Kovarik, her twin sister Margaret (the late Daniel) Carr, daughters Heather (Andrew) Langsdale and Anne (Shawn) McNamara and her five grandchildren: Benjamin, Matthew, Jessica, Jacob Langsdale and Finnian McNamara. Mary was predeceased by her parents John and Dorothy Long. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude Research Hospital or the ASPCA. 

Due to COVID19 gathering restrictions, any visitors gathering at our funeral home and St. Bernadette's Catholic Parish are by invitation of the family only

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