In and Around Morningside-Skyline
by Mary McHale 301-735-3451
From Eritrea and Italy, Sister came to work with children and master English
Sister Anna Haregu Teclebrhan, who moved from Italy to a convent in Skyline in 2009, died of cancer April 25. She was 46. Her funeral was at St. Philip’s Church where eight priests concelebrated Mass in Ge’ez and the choir sang in Tigrinya, the language of Sister’s native Eritrea.
Sister was born in the village of Adekontsi, Eritrea, in what is known as The Horn of Africa, on the Red Sea. After elementary school, she entered the congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne. In 1997 she professed her first vow; her final vow in July 2002.
Sr. Haregu taught school in Keren and in Massawa, in Eritrea, before assignment to Italy where she worked among the sick and elderly sisters of St. Anne’s congregation in Piacenza. It was in Piacenza that, in 1866, a widow, Mother Rosa Gattorno, founded the Daughters of Saint Anne with a mandate to work with the sick and the poor.
In November 2009, Sister moved to the United States. For five years she dedicated herself to the family daycare center of St. Anne and later served as teacher’s aide in St. Philip’s School. The convent where Sister lived is just around the corner from me and she often rode with me to Mass at St. Philip’s, three miles away in Camp Springs. I came to know her as a delightful friend who had a deep relationship with God. And her English just got better and better.
Her parents came from Eritrea to be with her in her final weeks at a Baltimore hospice. Most of her siblings are in Eritrea or Italy, but a brother flew in from California and a sister came from Canada for the funeral. Sister Haregu is now buried at Resurrection Cemetery, near a statue of Jesus.
People
Teddy Burke grew up next door to the McHales and often played with my kids, including daughter Therese. Years ago, Teddy moved to Delaware. Therese settled in Brownsville, Texas. Recently, while birding at Estero Llano Grande State Park in South Texas, Therese observed a woman intently studying a small bird. She went to check, and it was Teddy. They met several more times to visit other bird havens and chat about old times.
Morningsiders Dean Woods and Charlie Mickey have taken up trail-biking in Virginia. They started on the W&OD Trail, along the right-of-way of the now-defunct Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. At one stop, they came to a park with a vintage caboose.
Racheal Spruill, of Skyline, is majoring in biology at UMBC. Her brother Johuaan Spruill is working at the Patuxent Nursery in Bowie but hopes to go on to a career in carpentry. Both graduated from Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School.
I will be pleased to announce your graduate in my column. Call me at 301-735-3451 or email muddmm@aol.com. Let me know his/her school and plans for the future (college, military service, travel, Disney World, etc.).
Changing landscape
I travel daily up Suitland Road to Allentown Road. On May 10, as I drove under the Beltway bridge, I looked up and saw that girders of a new bridge had been installed. Before long the two existing bridges over Suitland Road will be demolished, and the new bridge will go into use.
Morningside Memories: 1978
Forty years ago this week the Morningside Senior Citizens elected their new officers: Claude Shaffer, president; Jesse Holmes, vice president; Louise Rousseaux, treasurer; and Mrs. Black, secretary.
May they rest in peace
Harry Fleming, 98, my neighbor on Skyline Drive, died April 15 in Silver Spring. He grew up in Waynesboro, Va. He worked at the Pentagon, was a chauffeur and drove a cab for 60 years, to age 96. His wife Naomi died at 48. Survivors include his children, DeWitt, Harry and Darlene Fleming and Eva Fleming-Foster, six grandchildren and many great-grands. Eva told me that Harry loved the cherry blossoms. I’m sure he showed them off to his passengers every spring.
Joseph William “Joey” Abbott, 59, of Annapolis and previously of Dunkirk, proprietor and manager of Abbott’s Automotive, died of cancer March 12 at his home. He was born in Brownsville, Pa., to Joseph and the late Nancy Yoders Abbott. He’s survived by his wife, Diane Carmela Abbott; two children, Joseph W. Abbott, Jr. and Jennifer Farmer; two grandchildren, and his sister, Marcia Yodichkas. Abbott’s Automotive is in Penn Western Court (near the Forestville Fire Department). Joey was my mechanic, a great guy who has kept my 2000 Olds Intrigue running. I miss him a lot! But his son Joey Jr. has taken on the business; I bet Joey Sr. taught him well.
Milestones
Happy birthday to Morningside Mayor Benn Cann and Patti Parco Grey, May 18; Kaylin Barbour, Otis Jones, Ellen Ashby and Aidan Kilbride, May 20; Crystal Foster,
Juanita Hood, David Sanford and Linda Holsonbake, May 22; Ricci Lee Jr., Betty Call, L. Dorothy Jones, Nancy Sawyer, Dory Babecki and Chester Lanehart IV, May 23; Edna Lucas and former Morningside Councilman Harry Messer, May 24.
Happy anniversary to Aidan and Mary Kilbride on their 55th, May 18; Dennis and Leigh D’Avanzo, their 29th on May 20; and Ronnie and Karen Ellis, their 52nd on May 20.
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Brandywine-Aquasco
by Audrey Johnson 301 888 2153
GOSPEL COMEDY
Join us Friday, June 1, 2018, 11:00 AM for a Platinum Series Gospel Comedy with Ms. Gayle at Prince George’s Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly, Maryland. A favorite at military and corporate shows, Christian Comedian, Ms. Gayle will have you rolling in the aisles with her uproarious, but clean, commentary. Tickets cost $10 for seniors 60 and better.
SCHOOL NURSE JOB FAIR
Prince George’s County Public Schools are having a School Nurse Job Fair May 23, 2018. The Job Fair will be held at the Green Valley Administrative Offices, 2215 Chadwick Street, Temple Hills, Maryland. Visit the website at www.princegeorge’scountypublicschools.
TRANSITION TO KINDERGATEN SCHOOL READINESS
The Early Childhood Office will offer a summer program for students who were enrolled in Pre-kindergarten during the 2017–2018 school year and will be transitioning to Kindergarten. The summer program aims to provide high-quality academic learning opportunities to children working to master essential skills in language, literacy, math and social emotional development in order to demonstrate school readiness upon entry to kindergarten.
Students who were enrolled in Prekindergarten during the 20107–2018 school year that will be transitioning to Kindergarten working to master essential skills should apply. Students will receive invitations from the Early Childhood Office via their classroom teachers. Contact information is Andreia Searcy at andreia.searcy@pgcps.org, email:andreia.searcy@pgcps.org.
2018 STUDENT BUILT HOUSE
Prince George’s County Public School students unveiled a 2018 Student Built House Thursday, May 3 at 7806 Lusby’s Turn, Brandywine, Maryland. Students in the Foundation for Applied Construction Technology Students (Facts) program have spent this year building and designing this brand new home. The students received scholarship awards for their outstanding efforts. Students, instructors and other special guest dedicated the 2018 Student Built House to celebrate student achievement.
CENTRAL GARAGE CAREER FAIR
Prince George’s County Public Schools is looking to hire automotive service attendants, trades helpers and mechanics. If you like to work on vehicles and you care about children’s safety, this job is for you. Join us at our Central Garage Job Fair on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 9:00 AM–4:00 PM at Skyline, 6311 Randolph Road, Suitland Maryland. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 301-780-2191 or visit http://www.pgcps.org/career-fairs/.
2018 COLLEGE GRADUATE
Congratulations to Darrell Lewis, Jr. (DJ) for successfully obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear and Radiological Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He left for college as a young adult who could and returns with a degree as a man who will. Words from his parents Darrell and Cecelia Lewis “Your love, prayers and encouragement provided a continuous network of support that helped him achieve this goal. “We’ve like to wholeheartedly thank you for being part of his story”.
BE A GUEST ANNOUNCER
Win a chance to be a guest announcer and receive the “Explore the Arts” brochure filled with auditions, exhibitions, and concerts. Send an e-mail to public.affairs@pgparks.com and put “Guest Announcer” in the subject line. Include your mailing address and you will be entered into a contest to be a guest announcer at one of our arts venues. Contest runs through June 2018. Enter today by visiting www.arts.pgparks.com for more information and contest rules.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
Happy Birthday to Joan Falby, Janet Smalling, Joshua Jackson, Nana Smalling, Abena Smalling, Andrea Johnson, Angela Williams, Doris Hill, De’Andre Bowden, Theresa Joiner, Kolbi M. Dee, Agatha Jalloh, Ihuoma Mbakwe, Blair Stephens, Cameron Barron, Mia Kerrick, Carolyn Glee, Ricky Thomas and Dacinth Dorsett who are Clinton United Methodist Church Members celebrating birthdays in May. Hope that everyone will have a special and wonderful birthday celebration.
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
Sending Sincere congratulations to Valentine and Charmaine Grant, Marcus and Nadia Long who are Clinton United Methodist Church Members celebrating Wedding Anniversaries in May. Cherish the beautiful bond that you have created over the years as a couple and enjoy your Wedding Anniversary on your special day.
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