Mari-Louise Lynch

Mari-Louise Papp Lynch (Mari-Lou), 78, of Gardners, PA, formally of York, PA, passed away on January 13, 2022.

Born in Dover, DE on June 27, 1943, she was the daughter of the late John Rudolph Papp and the late Margaret Rose Mescei Papp. She was a graduate of Frankford High School in Philadelphia, PA, and Penn State University where she majored in English and met the love of her life and husband of 57 years, Patrick Edward Lynch.

Mari-Lou met and fell in love with her husband, Pat at Penn State in April of 1964 when Pat was working as a bouncer at the Rathskeller and let underage Mari-Lou in. He took her later that night to a frat party and they were together ever since. Pat and "Lou", as Pat called her, eloped and were married by a justice of the peace on a Thursday, January 7, 1965. They were blessed with three children; son, John James Lynch (deceased) with whom she is forever reunited, daughter, Christine Marie Lynch Eberhart (Guy), and son, James Michael Lynch (Lisa). Mari-Lou was known as Grandma Lynch to her three grandchildren: Jonathan Patrick Eberhart, Theodore William Eberhart, and Jillian Marie Eberhart whom she loved dearly.

Although raised in Philadelphia as the only child to John and Margaret Papp, Mari-Lou grew up with three cousins who were like siblings to her: Margaret Mary Schwartz, James Martin Roney (deceased), and Elaine Marie Strockbine (deceased) and Mari-Lou's favorite aunt, Helen Marie Roney (deceased.)

Mari-Lou and Pat raised their three children in York, PA. Throughout her children’s early years, Mari-Lou was an active volunteer at their school and church, Saint Rose of Lima and was considered a "second mother" by many of her kids' high school friends. She was an exceptional listener and always had a positive attitude towards life. Not surprisingly, Mari-Lou had a huge circle of friends, including her late black lab K.C., whom she referred to as her best friend and guardian. She was a gifted seamstress and had a lifelong love for books and Christmas. In her middle years, she enjoyed walking the paths of Michaux State Forest and more recently, attending church at South Fairview First Church of God and socializing with her weekly "Lunch Bunch."

As per Mari-Lou’s wishes, there will be no funeral or service. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Mari-Lou’s favorite charity, the Wounded Warrior Project, or her church, South Fairview First Church of God in Newville, Pennsylvania.

Mari-Lou's favorite church hymn:

Be Not Afraid

You shall cross the barren desert
But you shall not die of thirst
You shall wander far in safety
Though you do not know the way
You shall speak your words to foreign men
And they will understand
You shall see the face of God and live

Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me and I will give you rest.

If you pass through raging waters in the sea
You shall not drown
If you walk amid the burning flames
You shall not be harmed
If you stand before the power of hell
And death is at your side
Know that I am with you through it all

Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me and I will give you rest.

Blessed are your poor
For the Kingdom shall be theirs
Blest are you that weep and mourn
For one day you shall laugh
And if wicked men insult and hate you
All because of Me
Blessed, blessed are you!

Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me and I will give you rest.