Marcella M. Towle, 82, of Severna Park, died of pneumonia Jan. 5 at Anne Arundel Medical Center after a lengthy illness. She had Parkinson's disease for the past eight years.

The former Marcella Lawlor was born Nov. 24, 1922, in New York City and reared in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was an art history major at Barnard College in New York. She also lived in Little River, Nova Scotia, Canada, from 1978 to 2002 and Mount Holly, N.J., from 1959 to 1978.

She was a third-grade teacher for 18 years, and enjoyed genealogy, gardening and family.

Surviving are her husband, Richard B. Towle, whom she married in 1950; three sons, Thomas L. Towle of County Galway, Ireland, Richard E. Towle of Stockton, N.J., and Michael D. Towle of Severna Park; one sister, Mark Lynyak of Little River; and four grandchildren. She was the mother of the late Jane Towle.

Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Ritchie Highway and Cypress Creek Road, Severna Park. Burial will be in Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY 10305. Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com.

As published on 1/7/2005 in The Capital Newspaper, Annapolis, MD