Obituaries and other major life milestone announcements can be shared on our site. Please spread awareness of this new type of neighborly news on the website and reach out to add yours using Contact Us or by emailing amymchase@gmail.com.
Condolences
This collection of remembrances is not all-encompassing, including just the subset we are immediately aware of. Updates or additions can be made by contacting us.
MWCA extends condolences to the family and friends of Marlene Bergstrom, an original owner who lived on Sherman St, who passed away in mid-September. Obituary available here.
MWCA extends condolences to the family and friends of Richard Courtney of Singleton Cir., who passed away in mid-September.
MWCA extends condolences to the family and friends of John McDonnell, a longtime resident of Mosby Woods, who passed away in late August. Additional notes and link included below.
MWCA extends condolences to the family and friends of long-time
resident Shirley Grabb of Ranger Rd, who passed away in late June. Additional notes and link included below.
MWCA extends condolences to the family and friends of Rita Bryce, of Scarlet Circle, who passed away in June. Mrs. Bryce was an original owner in Mosby Woods.
John McDonnell
It is with sad hearts that we share that long time resident of Mosby Woods, John McDonnell, passed away on Monday, August 23 at the age of 92.
Memorial services were held by his loving wife, Pat, at their church, The Falls Church Anglican on Wednesday, September 22.
John and Pat raised their 3 children (Joe, Richard & Jack) here so, of course, many may know him from his duties as a Swim Team Official for many summers. Their kids were all members and many records were once held by them. He was also a Soccer coach for FPYC for many years. As if that wasn’t enough he also was a Boy Scout Leader. He graduated from Stanford University and was a long term salesman in the Book Industry.
He will be truly missed.
Obituary available here.
Shirley Mae Grabb
Shirley Mae Grabb was born in Cheboygan, Michigan December 29, 1923 and died June 30, 2021.
After her early years helping with farms chores and working hard as a nurses aid and then doctor’s assistant, she married Jim Grabb, a Coast Guard lieutenant, in 1961. They lived in WA, VA, OH, MA, and finally here in Fairfax City. Shirley has always been proud of her sons — Paul who is a pediatric neurosurgeon in Kansas City and Mark who is an engineer at General Electric Research in upstate NY. Her five grandsons were an added blessing, and being with them was always a special treat.
Shirley was the ultimate doer, never resting and never giving up. She loved to golf, bowl, run around the neighborhood, hike and camp, garden, bake and prepare meals. She was a Cub Scout Den mother, an active Little League mother, and the neighborhood mother that kids flocked to.
In her later years she continued to carry on doing her church oriented volunteer work at the Fairfax Nursing Center and The Gardens at Fair Oaks, as well as golfing and bowling. She attended Mass at St. Leo’s until it was impossible to walk or stand.
Shirley is survived by her husband Capt. James E. Grabb, USCG (Ret.), sons Paul A. Grabb, MD (Brenda, MD) and their sons, Declan, MD and Gavin, and Mark L. Grabb (Colleen) and their sons, Clark, Miles, and Owen.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, July 22, at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, and a graveside service was held at on Monday, September 20, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Full obituary available here.
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