Mary Lou Carey

Mary Louise Carey (née Forrest), 74 of Upper Darby PA, sadly left this world on April 6, 2024.

Mary Lou, the fourth born and middle child of seven, was born in Philadelphia on January 25, 1950. She resided in Havertown, where she attended elementary school at Sacred Heart in Manoa. Mary Lou graduated from Cardinal O’Hara high school in 1967, making her in the first graduating class of the school.

Before marriage and children, Mary Lou held jobs at Provident Bank as a head teller and Specta Guard as a dispatcher. She took some time off professionally in order to raise her three daughters—this was by far her favorite occupation. Once her children were of school age, Mary Lou began working for Upper Darby School District. She held a position as a Teacher’s Aid in Bywood Elementary for years until her retirement in 2014.  She also worked at Upper Darby High School in the Audio Visual Department. She loved working with kids no matter what age.

Mary Lou met her “Honey Bear”, Walt, at the Bongo Room in Sea Isle City. In her true force of nature fashion, Mary Lou later approached Walt at the Ocean Drive in Sea Isle and asked him out.

They married on September 22, 1979 and moved to Upper Darby, PA where they raised their three daughters—Jessica, Jill and Lisa. Mary Lou always said becoming a mother was her greatest achievement in life and she held the title proudly. She was nurturing, protective and selflessly devoted her time to ensure her children were happy and well taken care of.

When Mary Lou became a “Nana”, her world was completed. She had six grandchildren who she doted on and they adored her respectively. She would call or FaceTime them to check in every single day.

Mary Lou was very creative. She always made her children’s Halloween costumes as well helping them bring school projects to life—talents she passed on to her daughters.

Mary Lou loved visiting the beach, especially Sea Isle and Wildwood. She enjoyed watching game shows—especially Price is Right & Jeopardy and would often watch them with her family. She was also an avid reader, wonderful cook, and she loved her cups of hot tea with sugar and milk. She is Jason Kelce, Tom Selleck and Paul McCartney’s biggest fan!

Mary Lou is survived by her loving husband, Walter Carey; three daughters, Jessica Carey (Jason), Jill, and Lisa Barycki (Michael); five grandchildren, Gavin, Khloe, Michael, Jason and Adam. She is also survived by her siblings, Jimmy (Vicky), Joe, John and Diana (Skip); her sister-in-law, Tina; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, George and Anna Forrest; siblings, Kathleen Hennessy and George Forrest; and grandson, Jack Walter Sweeney.