James Edward Edelen

James Edward Edelen was affectionately known to his family and friends as “Rabbit.” He was born on June 17, 1934 to the late Joseph H. Edelen and Mary Catherine Thompson Edelen in Bryantown, Maryland. He had been sick for a while. He said he was ready, and it was his time. He gave his life to the Lord on March 5. God saw that his child was tired and sent his Angels to bring him home on March 7, 2020 to be with the Lord while in University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata, Maryland. He met the love of his life, Margaret, in April 1955. They met at an Easter Monday Dance at St. Mary’s Bryantown. After that, they would meet to dance every weekend. They were married on June 29, 1955. They were married for 64 years and out of that union there were seven children, Enola, Ronnie, James, Marie, Sharon, Chris and Andy. He was employed at D. H. Stephens as a Land Surveyor where he retired after 50 years of employment. After retiring, while waiting for Margaret to retire, he spent his time fishing, hunting and relaxing, watching Jerry Springer, Judge Judy, Married with Children, Real Housewife’s and talk shows. He enjoyed his Man Cave with his sons and friends; he always had a drink and joke for them. His most precious time was with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He would sit for hours to hear their stories about school and what was going in their lives, from the youngest to the oldest. He would give them advice in a joke and they would laugh, but in that joke was a bit of good lifelong advice. James (Rabbit) leaves behind his loving wife Margaret and devoted daughters and sons. grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, along with a host of loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was proceeded in death by his parents: Joseph H. and Mary Catherine Edelen; sisters, Mary Lillian Green, Mary Bernice Edelen, Mary Leona Neal, Mary Virgilene Sweetney, Joyce Ann Edelen; and brother, Paul Eugene Edelen. A Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 from 9:30AM until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, 100 Village Street, Waldorf, Maryland 20602. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in James' name are asked to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Attention: Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

James Edward Edelen

June 17, 1934 - March 7, 2020