Mary Patience "Pay" Amundson, age 68, of Arnold, MD, died after a brief illness on Tuesday, August 2, 2016, at the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD.

Mary Patience Amundson was born September 1, 1947, in Philadelphia, PA, to William Augustine Nurthen and Virginia Kane (Lee) Nurthen. Pay grew up in the Ridley Park, PA area and graduated in 1965 from Holy Child Academy in Sharon Hill, PA.

Following graduation, Pay was employed as an account manager for Bell Telephone in Philadelphia until she was united in marriage with Ensign Robert "Bob" Amundson, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate from Clear Lake, SD, on June 6, 1969, in Ridley Park, PA. Blessed with 47 years together and three children, Patience and her family made a home in several areas of the United States during Bob's twenty-two year Naval career. Wherever she lived, Pay became a vibrant and well-loved part of the community and her neighborhood.

Upon Bob's retirement from active duty, the family made their home in Arnold, on the Broadneck Peninsula of Maryland. For 25 years, Patience has been a faithful and giving member of St. Andrew by the Bay parish and the Broadneck community, volunteering to serve her church and community service organizations, including Chores and More and My Brothers' Pantry.

Throughout her life, Patience loved reading and celebrating family. She has been a dedicated and loving supporter of her extended family and friends. Firmly believing in the command "Love one another", Pay was selfless in her commitment to family unity and mutual love.

Left to cherish their memories of Pay are her husband, Bob, of Arnold; her children Robert Jr. (Melinda) of Atoka, TN; and Krista and Virginia of Arnold; her grandchildren Makenna and Robert III of Atoka, TN; her brothers William (Donna) of Ocean, NJ; Jeremiah (Mary Kaye) of Phoenix, AZ; and John (Elissa) of Phoenixville, PA; her sisters Therese Nurthen-Jehl of Nottingham, PA; Martha (David) McCarren of Somerset, NJ; and Virginia of Ridley Park, PA.; and many very much loved nieces and nephews and their children.

Pay was preceded in death by her parents, her infant brother Francis, and her sister-in-law Linda Amundson.

A Memorial Mass will be offered on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 10:00 am at St. Andrew by the Bay Roman Catholic Church, 701 College Pkwy, Annapolis, MD 21409. Interment will be held privately at the United States Naval Academy Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Patience's memory to St. Andrew by the Bay; or Society of the Holy Child Jesus, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010.