Obituary of Mary Lou Cardisco Bentz

Mary Lou Cardisco Bentz of Fishing Creek, Maryland

Born in Pennsylvania she was the daughter of the late Mary and Lewis Cardisco. She attended Blessed Virgin Mary grade school, in Darby, and in 1966 graduated from Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill, PA. She was a member of her High School’s orchestra for 4 years and played the clarinet.

After graduating, she worked in Philadelphia in the insurance department at Acme Markets Headquarters and then for the U.S. Defense Supply Agency. In November of 1970 she married Frank Bentz of Havertown, PA.

After their honeymoon, they moved to Virginia where Frank was working for IBM. They had two children - Frank III and Jennie. Over the years they would move again with IBM to Austin, TX then Ringwood, NJ, and finally to Gaithersburg, MD.

In 1984, Mary Lou started a custom quilting business in her home which lasted 10 years. In 1990 and after a few years of doing ad-hoc antique shows, she opened an antique shop. She also worked as an assistant manager at the antique mall where her business was located in Frederick, Maryland. She retired from the manger job in 2002. That same year - she and Frank retired to Hooper’s Island on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. With Frank’s help she kept her antique shop going long distance until 2013.

She loved going out in the Jon Boat with Frank and the grandkids and exploring the Chesapeake Bay and its beaches.

Mary Lou was a dedicated member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church – where she was also a member of the Pastoral care committee and participated in various tasks. She enjoyed her “sisters on the island,” and took part in an exercise group and a weekly Sunday gathering group.

Her passions included vegetable and flower gardening and cooking. She especially enjoyed baking and cooking for her friends and family. She also enjoyed sewing, decorating, art, and quilting. She was knowledgeable about dating and history of antique quilts and their respective patterns.

She loved spending time with her family – all of her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was a caring and loving friend, wife, mother, and sister.

Surviving Mary Lou is her husband of 50 years – Frank. In addition, her son Frank and his wife Alexis of Mount Airy, MD; her daughter Jennie Bentz of Reston, VA.; her grandchildren Hannah, Haley and Ryan Bentz; her sister Carol Cipolloni of Morton, PA; and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, October 4, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 2130 Franklin Avenue, Morton, PA 19070. The church will receive family and friends starting at 10AM and the mass will begin at 11AM.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent please in memory of Mary Lou Bentz to:

• Feeding America, Donation Processing Center, PO Box 96749, Washington, DC 20090-6749 – OR
• Star of the Sea Golden Hill Foundation, Inc., PO Box 187, Fishing Creek, MD  21634