Mary Louise Webber

(nee Foradora) On July 31 surrounded by her loving family. Born June 27, 1934 in New Rochelle, NY, Mary Lou was the daughter of S. James Foradora and Mary Christina DelGuidice. After graduating from New Rochelle High School where she was voted “done most for school,” she attended Wells College and graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a BA in English. She then worked at IBM World Headquarters in NYC before marrying Ensign, USN Ross A. Webber whom she had met freshman year of highschool. Together they lived in Newport, RI, Rochester, NY and New Rochelle before coming to Cherry Hill and Haddonfield, NJ raising 5 children and enjoying 18 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Mary Lou brought her boundless energy to the PTA as an officer, CCD teacher, Interfaith Caregivers, and Christ the King Church. She played competitive bridge for Tavistock Country Club while being a beloved member of several friendly bridge clubs. An avid reader, Mary Lou was also a member of several book clubs while instilling a love of reading among her children. She also enjoyed tennis, skiing, long walks, Phillies baseball, the Orchestra, Opera, and Broadway, and time with her incredible decades long Dial-a-Lunch group. Her creativity was expressed in knitting sweaters and lovely Christmas stockings and sewing amazing scrap material quilts for her children and grandchildren. They will warm her loved ones for years.

Mary Lou loved traveling and she accompanied her University of Pennsylvania professor husband on many business trips around the United States, Europe and the Far East, the highlight was an eight family member trip to Europe. She and Ross also took each grandchild on a special domestic or foreign adventure. Mary Lou was both a traditionalist and thoroughly modern. She was everybody’s friend, a glass half-full optimist who was always gracious and grateful for her family, friends, and experiences, She especially enjoyed having her mother live with her family for 30 years. She was described by a friend as “the most gracious and lovely person I have ever known,” and as “someone who was her true authentic self,” and “everyone could feel her authenticity and capacity to love.” Her children and grandchildren will always remember her on the beach in Stone Harbor, golden hour approaching, sharing childhood tales. She was accepting and encouraging of the path each of her children and grandchildren took and supported them in their journeys. She was utterly adored.

Mary Lou is survived by her husband Ross, her children Sarah De Pietro (Ron), Judith Bannister (Trevor), Gregory (Kathleen), Jennifer Walther, and Stephen (Kate), sister Ruth Tillstrom, 17 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.. A Celebration of Life will be held privately by the family.