Mary Helena (Carroll) Pendergraph

Mary Helena Pendergraph (82) passed away on Thursday, January 12, 2023. She was the first child of Matthew Paul Carroll and Mary Audrey (Stone) Carroll, born in Washington, D.C. on November 25, 1940. Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister. Her enduring love, faith and charity served as a shining example of service and motherhood to everyone she touched. Mary’s family, friends and coworkers meant everything to her.

There were two special priests in Mary’s life. The first was Reverend Monsignor Maurice O’Connell, known affectionately as “Father O”, who was a good friend to Mary for 45 years. The second was her nephew, Father Matthew Carroll, O.P., who she loved and was so proud of.

Mary grew up in Southeast Washington, D.C. and attended St. Francis Xavier elementary school, graduating in 1954. She graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame High School in Northwest Washington, D.C. as a member of the Class of 1958. After working at a couple of part time jobs she began her career at APWU Health Plan as a procurement specialist, where she worked for 50 years until her retirement in 2020.

In addition to her parents, Mary was predeceased by her daughter Mary and son James “Jamie” Pendergraph, by her sister Joan (Carroll) Pendergraph, and by her husbands Gene Pendergraph, Darrel Smith, and Lawrence Pendergraph. She is survived by her sons Matthew Pendergraph and Charles “Chuck” Smith, who she always affectionately called Charlie. Mary is also survived by her sister Anne (Carroll) Purdy, her brother Matthew P. Carroll, Jr (Jane), known to the family as “Sonny”, seven grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.