Margaret Delean

Margaret Ann Mould Delean. RN of Gainesville, VA, and Oxford, MD, passed away February 26, 2012, in Oxford at the age of 87. She was born June 21, 1924, to the late Alice and William E. Mould of Washington, DC. Mr. Mould was a librarian at the Library of Congress, and organized and opened the library at the Pentagon. Mrs. Mould was a homemaker. Margaret, was raised in Washington, DC, with her five siblings and married John F. Delean, also of Washington, on September 15, 1947. Margaret graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame, Washington, DC, in 1942. She entered the Maryknoll Noviate at age 17, but left to enter Georgetown University School of Nursing. She graduated from the Cadet Nurse Program with a R.N. in 1945. While at Georgetown, she was present the night a mysterious medication was given to a critically ill patient. His survival the next morning changed medicine and nursing. The miracle drug was penicillin. Nursing shifts after that involved multiple trips up and down the halls to sharpen and then sterilize, on a Bunsen burner, the one needle for the one glass syringe that each nurse was issued to inject her patients. She was also a visiting nurse in Washington, DC, a staff nurse at the Fairfax Hospital nursery, and ended her career as a nurse at the F.D.I.C., where she literally kept her fingers on the pulse of the financial leaders. Margaret was active in St. James Catholic Church, Falls Church, where she was a member of the Sodality, Women of St. James, the PTA, and the bridge club. Margaret was a Den Mother, a Girl Scout leader, and transportation coordinator for multiple team sports. She was a docent at the Kennedy Center, and a volunteer in the missions to feed the homeless. She was an avid swimmer, skier, sailor, cyclist, bridge player, carver and painter. She instilled in all her children a great love of sports, the outdoors, and respect for their fellow human beings. She is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 64 years, John, and her six children: Susan Delean-Botkin, husband Joseph Botkin, (Oxford) J. Michael Delean, and wife Linda,(Stephen City, VA.) Robert O. Delean, and wife Beverly, (Burlington, VT.), Edward P. Delean, (Fairfax, VA.), David C. Delean and wife Ann,(Ellicott City, MD) and James. F. Delean, and wife Margaret (Falls Church, VA). She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her older sister, Jean Barnes (age 95), and older brother, Edwin (age 93) in 2011. She is survived by her sister, Mary E. Koberstein, and her brothers, John and Owen Mould. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 17, 2012, 11 a,m. at Holy Trinity Church, Oxford, MD. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Church, 502 South Morris Street, Oxford, MD 21654.

Margaret Delean

June 21, 1924 - February 26, 2012