Mary Alouise Conlon Danberg

Mary Alouise Conlon Danberg passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at the age of 94, following a brief illness.

Mary Alouise, widely known as Marylou, was born on December 7, 1929, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Her parents were the late Paul Jerome Conlon and Mary McLaughlin Conlon. Her husband of fifty-seven years, Dr. James E. Danberg, passed away on August 16, 2020. Her brothers, Paul J. Conlon, Jr. and M. Clark Conlon, and her sister, Suzanne Conlon Smith, also preceded her in death.

Marylou's legacy includes her five children: James E. Danberg, Jr. and his wife Tomok of Palmyra, VA; Mary Paula Wylie and her husband Mark of Gilbertsville, PA; M. Edward Danberg and his wife Theresa of Newark, DE; Kara Chase and her husband Rob of Bear Creek Village; and Carl C. Danberg and his wife Barbara of Newark, DE; seventeen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Marylou also leaves behind her constant companion, her dog Casey.

Marylou had fond memories of her childhood in Kingston and on the lake at Bear Creek Village, as well as a lasting love of the Pocono Mountains. She attended Wyoming Seminary and graduated from Marywood Seminary, the latter instrumental in forming her unshakable Catholic faith. Marylou graduated in 1951 from Trinity College in Washington, D.C., with a B.A. in English and Spanish. After graduation, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. While at Trinity College, Marylou met her husband, Jim. Together, they raised five children to whom she was utterly devoted all her life.

In 1967, the growing Danberg family moved from Silver Spring, Maryland, to Newark, Delaware, where Jim accepted a Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering professorship at the University of Delaware. In Delaware, Marylou became heavily involved in the community and politics. She was a member of multiple PTAs, a member of the Educational Task Force for Improving Education in the Christina School District, a member of the State of Delaware Board of Professional Counselors of Mental Health, vice president of the American Association of University Women, president of the Junior Board of St. Francis Hospital, and president of the Democratic Women's Club of Delaware.

It was in politics that Marylou's talents excelled. She campaigned heavily and successfully for many local and state politicians, including now President Joe Biden's early senate races. She proudly served in 2000 as a Delaware delegate at the National Democratic Convention.

Aside from her many accomplishments, our Mother will be remembered for her faith, her generosity, her strength, and the love of her family.

Friends may come to call on Saturday, March 2, from 10 AM to 12 PM at Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, March 4, at 10 AM at Grace Chapel, 15 Chapel Road, Bear Creek Village, Pennsylvania. Interment will follow at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Hanover Township.

Donations to Mount Aviat Academy, 399 Childs Road, Childs, MD 21916; St. Mark's High School, 2501 Pike Creek Road, Wilmington, DE 19808; or Trinity Washington College, 125 Michigan Ave. N.E., Washington D.C. 20017, are preferred and will honor Marylou's memory.

Share memories and condolences with Marylou's family at mjmclaughlin.com