"We lost one hell of a woman today. My Grandmother Mary Blake passed away this morning, after leading a life filled with laughter, love, pastel colored polyester pant suits, and solidly 1960's cooking. I lucked out and had a wonderful grandmother. She would let us nip from the mimosas before church some times, if it meant we'd actually GO and behave ourselves - I respected that.

She was from a time when the man worked the 9-5 and the woman stayed home to raise kids, vacationing in Ocean City, bringing back that original "almost hurts to drink because it's so peppery" Vernor's Ginger Ale from Michigan trips to visit family, allowing fireworks on the carport, playing horseshoes in the back yard, and indulging our creativity.

I'll miss you, Gram. We always promised not to hit the cousins and brothers too hard in our pedal cars, playing crash up derby in the court in Severna Park. And of course we always rammed the hell out of each other, and she always forgave us"

A Memorial Mass will be Celebrated on Monday May 18, 2015 at 10:00am in the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 689 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146.