MARY DELMA WELCH, age 85 years of Cardiff, Maryland died at her home at 10:15 a.m. on Friday, July 11, 2008. She was the wife of Andrew F. Welch, Sr. who died on March 5, 1987.

Mrs. Welch was born on August 31, 1922 in Baltimore, Maryland the youngest of ten children of the late Charles Francis and Edith Elizabeth (Brieghner) Wineke. She and her late husband were married on November 11, 1942 and moved to Washington, D.C. following his service during World War II. In April 1950 they moved to Cardiff, Maryland where Mrs. Welch worked at various times for Petti Frocks in Whiteford, Maryland. From 1976 until her retirement in 1992 she worked in food service at North Harford Middle School in Pylesville, Maryland.

Mrs. Welch was a member of the ladies auxiliary of both the John S. Murphy Post #7130, V.F.W., Delta and the Slate Ridge Post #182, American Legion, Whiteford. An avid Baltimore Orioles fan and pinochle player, she was a member of the Pinochle League at the V.F.W. Mrs. Welch was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. She enjoyed collecting globes.

She felt blessed with independence and a wonderful family to whom she was devoted

Mrs. Welch is survived by:

Five children

Andrew F. Welch, Jr. and his wife Sue of Cardiff, Maryland

Niles T. Welch and his wife Ann Waterman of Louisville, Kentucky

Delma Welch and her partner Peg of York, Pennsylvania

Roxanne DeRan and her husband Dave of Delta, Pennsylvania

Eric C. Welch and his fiancée Bonnie Small of Baltimore, Maryland

Eight grandchildren

Karen Mueller and her husband Mike of Gardner, Kansas

Melanie Engel and her husband John of Delta

Jeff Welch and his wife Angie of Cardiff

Niles Welch of Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Jennifer Krouse and her fiancé Joel Satterfield of York

Jeanne Altland of Delta

Leslie King and her husband Adam of Delta

Cassiopeia Meyer of Baltimore

Eleven great grandchildren

Brittany Welch, Rachel Welch, Ian Welch, Mackenzie Altland, Adam King, Robert King, Andrew Engel, Allen Engel, Sebastian Meyer, Andromeda Meyer and Roman Meyer.

One sister in law

Phyllis Wineke of Baltimore

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 18 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 1021 St. Mary's Road, Pylesville, MD 21132

Reverend A. Henry Kunkel, III will be the officiant.

Inurnment will be in the adjoining cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Harkins Funeral Home, 600 Main Street, Delta, Pennsylvania

In lieu of flowers, mass cards or contributions to the church at the above address would be appreciated.