Mary Louise Branagan

June 4, 2020

Mary Louise Branagan, nee DeOre, of Springfield, Virginia, formerly of Jupiter, Florida, and Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, passed into eternal life on Thursday, June 4, 2020. The daughter of the late James Carmen DeOre and Theresa Mary Cuneo DeOre, she is survived by her daughters Mary Pat (Mike) Litwin and Christie (Chris) Palmer, grandchildren Eileen Palmer, Meghan (Eric) Felton, Kelly Palmer, Rob (Shauna) Litwin, Andrew Litwin, Sean Litwin, and Mary Caroline Litwin. Also survived by sister-in-law Margaret O’Connor, and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her loving husband of fifty-one years James Burke Branagan, and siblings Loretta Albine, Anita DeOre, James DeOre, Lawrence DeOre, Marcella Campbell, and Raymond DeOre. Mary Lou grew up in Connellsville, Pennsylvania in a loving, close family and enjoyed spending time with her many siblings. She attended Immaculate Conception elementary school and high school, then California State Teacher’s College. Upon receiving her teaching degree, she taught grades three and four for many years in the Connellsville and Pittsburgh area public schools. She met Jim Branagan at a dance at the University Catholic Club and they were married at St. Paul ‘s Cathedral in Pittsburgh in November 1957. They settled in Mt. Lebanon for many years. In 1991 Mary Lou and Jim moved to Jupiter, Florida full time and enjoyed their wonderful friends at Jonathan’s Landing. They experienced many happy retirement years there. In recent years, Mary Lou relocated to Greenspring Village in Springfield, Virginia to be close to Christie, Chris and their family. Mary Lou was a fantastic and fun mother and grandmother. She enjoyed raising her two daughters and was so proud of and thankful for her seven grandchildren. Her hobbies included playing cards, golfing, boating, and especially singing and dancing. Mary Lou embraced life and was always active and busy with her large extended family or with her cherished friends. Words cannot even begin to express the deep, heartfelt gratitude and love that our family has for all of the amazing staff at Greenspring’s Garden Ridge Assisted Living who became a second family to us. “Lou Lou” loved them all, and we are tremendously grateful to them. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place in Virginia. At a later time when gathering in groups is appropriate, there will be a celebration of Mary Lou’s life. Burial will then take place at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in McMurray, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mary Lou may be made to one of two funds at Greenspring Village: the Benevolent Care Fund (a tax deductible donation that helps to support residents whose funds are depleted) or the Staff Appreciation Fund (a non tax deductible fund that is distributed annually to each member of their caring, loving staff.) Donations can be mailed to the Greenspring Village Philanthropy Office, 7430 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, Virginia 22150.