Mary Ellen Williams Karwasinski

Mary Ellen Williams Karwasinski passed this life peacefully on April 27, 2023 at her home at Marshside Place in Nanjemoy, MD. Predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Theo Walter Karwasinski, and daughter Mary Gwynn Karwasinski Fuchs, she is survived by four daughters, Katherine (Mrs. George H.) Miles, Ann (Mrs. Terry) Page, Elizabeth (Mrs. William) Van Etten, Joan (Mrs. William D.) Zantzinger, and 12 grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Born in Washington D.C., she lived most of her childhood in Bryantown, MD, first living with her grandparents at Boarman’s Manor, later with her parents at Boarman’s Rest. A country girl, she had many stories to tell about growing up in Bryantown and the people and animals in her life (she loved animals). She was an alumna of St. Mary’s High School in Bryantown and Georgetown Visitation in Washington, D.C. where she developed many lifelong friendships. Returning to Charles County shortly after her marriage, she lived in Forest Park, Dentsville, La Plata, and finally at her much-loved farm on the Nanjemoy Creek. Mary Ellen played an active role in the Charles County community for more than seventy years. She served as a correspondent for the Waldorf Leaf newspaper (later the Times Crescent), a 4-H club leader, a member of the Colonial Dames and the Charles County Garden Club. She reflected her passion for the arts as a founding board member of the Mattawoman Creek Art Center. And as her children grew up she pursued a highly successful career, becoming one of the first women real estate brokers in Charles County and founder and president of Oxford Realty. Mary Ellen will be remembered most, though, as a “people person.” She was devoted to supporting an extensive community of friends and neighbors. She took delight in helping a family find their perfect home, or an artist find an audience for their work. She took great joy in her family and will forever be “GaGa” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family will receive visitors on Monday, May 8 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Raymond Funeral Home in La Plata, MD. Funeral Mass and burial will be on Tuesday May 9 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church and Cemetery, Bryantown, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders or the Mattawoman Creek Art Center in Marbury, MD.

Mary Ellen Williams Karwasinski

September 15, 1928 - April 27, 2023