Bertrand Pierre Morel

Bertrand Pierre Morel, age 91, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2014, at his residence in Laurel, MD.

Bertrand was born on March 5, 1923 in Paris, France to the late Fernand Morel and the late Jeanne (nee Payet) Morel. At the age of 7 he moved to the United States, specifically New York and eventually his family settled in Rutherford, New Jersey. He returned to Paris with his family in 1938, right before the German Occupation of France during WWII. During the war, Bertrand was involved with the French Resistance. After WWII ended he took a job working at SHAPE, (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe).

By 1961 he had moved back to the United States, this time settling in the Washington, DC area. It was while working at a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Riverdale, MD that he met his wife, Mary Jane, (who passed away in 2002) and they were married in May of 1961. Soon after his marriage he moved into his house on Harrison Street and lived there until the time of his death.

In 1990, Bertrand retired as a Shop Steward for the Teamsters Union, a position that he took very seriously and was extremely proud of. In his retirement he enjoyed gardening and always had a vegetable garden. Bertrand enjoyed watching PBS and getting his news from the BBC.

Bertrand took several trips back to Paris, renting an apartment and staying for extended periods of time, to get reacquainted with the city.

Bertrand is survived by his son Richard B. Morel of Laurel, MD and his daughter Bernadette Dragotto of Princeton, WV. He is also survived by his niece Joan Bond and his nephew George Elliott, III.

A visitation will take place on Tuesday, August 12 at St. Mary of the Mills Roman Catholic Church, 114 St. Mary's Place, Laurel, Maryland 20707 beginning at 10:00 Am and continuing until the Mass of Christian Burial begins at 11:00 AM. Following the Mass a time of fellowship will be held in the Breen Room of the church. Interment will take place at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 4111 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suitland, MD later that day beginning at 2:15 PM at the cemetery.

If desired memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, Silver Spring Office, 801 Roeder Road, Suite 800, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 or to PBS, Maryland Public Television, PO Box 13183, Baltimore, MD 21203-3183

Arrangements are being handled by Donaldson Funeral Home, P.A., 313 Talbott Avenue, Laurel, MD. Online condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfuneralhmoe.com