Mary Welch

Mary Edith Welch, age seventy-six, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family in Odenton, Maryland on January 21st, 2026 after a lengthy illness.

She was born September 14th, 1949 in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and was the daughter of the late John J. and Mary E. Scalise. Mary was a 1967 graduate of Bridgeport Senior High. She wed David C. Welch and resided in Honolulu, Hawaii until moving to Odenton, Maryland in 1975. She worked for five years as a secretary at Polan, Katz, and Co. and as a school bus driver for over 30 years.

More than anything else, Mary loved her family. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend. Her devotion to her family was evident in everything she did, never missing a birthday with her giant box of cards and checkbook handy year after year. Her mind was always focused on the wellbeing of those she loved and cherished, often putting their happiness and their needs above her own.

Although she hated losing, Mary loved to play board and card games. She enjoyed watching game shows but would gladly sit through any movie her grandkids wanted. She always loved having an ice cold Coca-Cola next to her and some kind of snack, though her favorites were popcorn and peanut butter fudge. All that knew her will not only remember her, but be changed by her. That's the kind of person she was.

Mary is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, David C. Welch; her children Helen Benfield-Price and husband Shane, and John Welch and wife Kelli; her grandchildren Sophia and Jason, Jr. Benfield, Kacie and Abby Welch, and her step-grandchildren Bailey and Camden Price. Mary is also survived by her eleven brothers and sisters: Theresa Blake, Patrick Scalise, Sr., Antoinette Devericks-Yocum, Margaret Scalise and husband Jerry, John Scalise, Jr. and wife Susan, Louie Scalise and wife Katrinka, Samuel Scalise and wife Judy, Angela Scalise Ammons and husband Joseph, Elizabeth Leuliette and wife Eugenia Reesman, Frank Scalise and wife Lynn, and Lisa Saliga and husband Martin.

Mary is survived by the following nieces and nephews: John and Charles Sizemore; Patrick, Jr. and Scott Scalise; Deena Devericks Cathell, William and Camden Devericks; Cynthia Boyce Fernandez, Christopher Boyce; Stacie Scalise Pahis, Justina Scalise, Katrinka Mendenhall/Cochrane, and Louie Scalise II; Samantha Scalise Hefner, John "Trey" III and Jocelyn Scalise; Angela Secreto; Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Leuliette; Angel and Frank, Jr. Scalise; Paul Saliga, Rachael Brandt, Joseph, Rebecca, and John Saliga.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents John and Mary; her first son-in-law Jason Benfield, Sr.; sister-in-law Patricia, wife of Patrick, Sr.; and brother-in-law Albert, husband of Antoinette. She is also preceded by nephews John Anthony Devericks and John Thomas Boyce, and niece Kristina Dunn.

Services will be held on Thursday, January 29th from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A. 1411 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD 21113. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 30th at 11:30 am at St. Joseph's Church, 1283 Odenton Road, Odenton, MD 21113. Interment will be private at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery.