Mary Dantes Male Doyle

M. Dantes Doyle (age 74)

On June 23, 2014, Dantes Doyle of Laurel, MD, peacefully passed away at Holy Cross Hospital. She was born on February 19, 1940 in Somerset, PA to her parents Ruth Armstrong and Willard Male. She was raised in Somerset and later graduated from Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA with a degree in German. She met her late husband, Richard G. Doyle, while working at NSA.

Dantes was a marvelous work of our loving God. A longtime fixture in Laurel, Dantes was a cheerful community participant in many of its affairs. She and her late husband raised two children and involved them in Boys and Girls Club activities, duckpin bowling, trips to Ocean City and Nags Head, and Orioles games. Her children thus enjoyed a classic Maryland upbringing. She is survived by her loving daughter, Susan M. Gustavsson of Laurel, MD, and her loving son William M. Doyle and daughter-in-law Nancy Doyle of Washington, DC.

Although her career focus was as a homemaker, she held several jobs earlier in life. She worked at NSA, NIH, Great Oaks and Laurel Hospital, and with Dr. Frank. She also volunteered at Meals on Wheels for 20 years.

Dantes was a lover of animals, especially dogs, cats, and giraffes. She loved people and especially children. She never met a child she didn't find breathtakingly adorable. During her brief illness, she was heartened by the presence of stuffed giraffes in her room and enjoyed greetings from her "granddog," Calla, a large, black, and very friendly Newfoundland owned by Susan.

Dantes loved her telephone time. Many of her neighbors in her Laurel neighborhood would enjoy chatting with her on the phone about local affairs. She remained active and interested in all forms of Laurel news through these many telephone conversations. Dantes also loved reading and cooking. She celebrated birthday and holidays with great fervor. She was known for making peanut butter balls and distributing them to friends and to her children's workplaces.

Her zest for life and people extended even to going to the dentist and the bank. She looked forward to her visits with her dentist, Dr. Nadine Soga of Washington, DC, and she much preferred personal interactions with bank employees to an impersonal ATM experience.

Dantes is survived by her sister Martha E. White of Abingdon, VA, whom she loved very much, and by her equally beloved brother George W. Male of Somerset, PA. She would visit or speak on the phone with her siblings as often as she could.

She is preceded in death by her husband of many years, Richard G. Doyle, and her brother Harold A. Male. She adored time spent with her sister-in-law Lois Male, and her many loving nieces and nephews.

Her children Susan and Bill are filled with gratitude for loving kindness of Christ shown in the work of many wonderful medical professionals who aided her during her brief illness. These include Drs. Justin Kwan, Rohit Talwani, and Francesca Bagnato of the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore; Dr. Thomas Ramirez in the emergency room at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring; and loving nurse Kathy Lewis of Holy Cross' Coronary Care Unit.

Memorial services will be held at Donaldson Funeral Home in Laurel, MD, at 12 Noon on June 28, 2014, preceded by an 11 am visitation gathering. All are welcome.