"AVE" MARIE ENGLISH

On Saturday, August 6, 2022, Marie Ann Papson English, loving mother of six children, passed away in her home at the age of 94 surrounded by her family.

Marie Ann Papson was born on November 12, 1927, in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Marie was the oldest of six girls born to Mary Frances Mosteller and John J. Papson.

Marie grew up in Stroudsburg and attended Morey's School, St. Mathew's Catholic School, and Stroudsburg High School.

Marie ran track, played the cello in the school symphony, and was very active at school and in the community. Marie also played the piano on the radio with two others better known as the "Twenty Fingers on the Keyboard." Marie graduated from high school on June 6, 1945- D-Day- and vividly remembered this historic time listening to the radio with her family.

Marie attended the all womens Catholic Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In her senior year, she won the history medal for her superb scholarship and writing. Marie graduated in the spring of 1949 with a bachelor's degree in history.

In the fall of 1949, Marie applied for a job as teacher at Sparkill, New York. She was hired as an English teacher by a handsome young World War II veteran who signed with the Boston Red Sox before the war, played baseball for the U.S. Navy All Star Team, and for a professional basketball team. His name was Rocco F. English who fell in love with Marie at first sight.

Rocco, inspired by Marie's beauty, piety, and beautiful spirit, called her "Ave" after "Ave Maria" ( Hail Mary), a name of honor which she was known by for her entire life.

On August 16, 1951, she married the love of her life, Rocco, at St. Mathew's Catholic Church in East Stroudsburg.

They settled in Forty Fort, LeHigh Valley, Pennsylvania and started their family while Rocco was athletic director at King's College. Ave and the "Roc" had six children Karen, Rocco, John, Susan, Cory, and Judy.

They were recruited by State Farm and they moved to State College and Monroeville, Pennsylvania. In 1968 they moved their family to Winter Haven, Florida to manage the developing area of Central Florida.

In 1975, Ave and Rocco moved to Orlando where she was a strong support to Rocco in their business and was well loved by their many agents and their families.

Ave was a devout Catholic and raised all of her children in her strong faith and Christian traditions. She was a member of St. Stephen's Catholic Church. Ave's faith, pure heart and gentle spirit were a beacon of light to all who knew her. She was a devoted and loving wife to Rocco until the day he died at age 98 in 2017.

Ave's greatest achievement was her family. She was a dedicated and delightful mother who always put her family first . She enjoyed being a part of each and everyone's lives and loved going to all of their school and sporting events.

Ave enjoyed gardening, reading, traveling, watching wildlife in her backyard and spending time with her family, but most of all, keeping focused on her spiritual life in prayer.

Ave is preceded in death by her husband Rocco; her sister Patricia Knickman; niece Ann Kelly; her parents Mary F. Mosteller and John J. Papson. Ave is survived by her six children Karen Wick, Rocco English Jr., John English, Susan Townsend, Cory Alexander; Judy Underwood, 19 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, sisters Kathryn Worthington in Pa., Joan Moritz in Ca., Betty Ahnert in Pa., Judy Rue in Mt. and many loving nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 526 N. Park Avenue , Winter Park, Florida at 10:00 a.m. on August 16, 2022. Following the Mass, the family invites you to join them at The Palms Cemetery in Winter Park, Florida where Ave will enter her final earthly resting place. Afterwards, Ave's family invites you to join them in celebrating Ave's wonderful and blessed life at the Women's Club of Winter Park.

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou amongst women…"