Mary Moran Cosgrove

Mary Louise Moran Cosgrove, age 87, of Laporte, PA, passed away on November 9, 2021. She was born on November 4, 1934, the daughter of Charles (Red) and Gertrude Gordner Moran of Muncy Valley, PA.

Mary graduated from Sullivan Highland High School in Sonestown in 1952 and attended one year at Dickinson College. She graduated in 1956 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and remained a licensed registered nurse until 2014. She married Thomas H. Cosgrove in September of 1956 and together they made their home in Laporte. She became a licensed Pennsylvania Realtor in 1981 and was broker and owner of Sullivan County Real Estate.  Mary was instrumental in marketing and selling Eagles Mere’s renaissance in the 1980s and 90s.

She exemplified service to her town and county and it began the day she became a Laporte resident.  As a young wife Mary was the unofficial welcome wagon to Laporte, offering a helping hand to new residents while becoming a neighbor who could be counted on by everyone in town.  As a registered nurse, she used her nursing skills to care for her neighbors and summer residents, and was a 20-year plus volunteer for the local Red Cross bloodmobiles. She was Sullivan County’s first Head Start nurse, where she assisted in the development of a fluoride treatment program and WIC for daycare families. For many years, Mary, always with apron in hand, assisted with scheduling workers for the food booth at the Bowhunters Festival and Laporte Firemen’s Carnival. While raising five children, Mary was a Cub Scout and 4-H leader and her house was the command center for children’s activities and parties.

Mary used her creativity and organizing skills to bring new projects to the county.  Most notably, in 1989 she organized a Victorian tea and fashion show at the Eagles Mere Country Club to help draw tourists to Eagles Mere during the off season. That tea was the beginning of the Victorian Tea that is staged annually by the Laporte Woman’s Club, with all profits going to support various groups in the county so that all have a merrier Christmas season. For multiple years, Mary served as event co-chair of the Sullivan County unit of the American Cancer Society which sponsored an Annual Gala Charity Auction Dance, and in 2003 respectfully raised a regional record of $25,000.

Over her lifetime, Mary has volunteered her time to serve on a variety of boards, including the Lake Mokoma Association, Eagles Mere Country Club, Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, Peoples Bank and was honorary chair of the Laporte Enhancement Committee. She has assisted with numerous events and fundraisers as a 60-year member of Laporte Woman’s Club. Mary’s passion and support for high school basketball were evident as she continued to attend games in-person or watch them virtually, and was the Griffins’ number one fan.

She was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Eagles Mere Conservancy, a life-long Democrat, and a 25-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. In 2001, Mary was named Sullivan County Citizen of the Year by the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce.

Living life to the fullest each day, Mary loved to spend time with friends and family. During the Depression and WWII she learned to live with ration cards. Remarking once, “the hardest part was one pair of shoes per year.” Living with less inspired in her a Joie de Vivre spirit for shopping, food, travel and most importantly her gracious hosting of multiple dinner events at her home. Her well-known open-door soup supper at Bear Creek, the family cabin, was a fall delight for residents across the county. She was also a founding member of the Ladies in Their Eighties, a group of close friends in their 9th decade of life who loved to gather for breakfast, coffee, or cocktails. 

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Mary is survived by four of her children; sons Thomas C. of Boulder Colorado, Michael (Diane) of Laporte, John R. of Mansfield, PA and daughter Mary Jo (Bill) Laporte. Her middle son Patrick W. Cosgrove, a successful NYC fashion designer, preceded her in death.

She has six grandchildren; Billy and Jacob Saxe, Laporte; Tommy Cosgrove and Sophie Kurz- Cosgrove, Cambridge, MA; Keri (Pete) Oblinsky, Greensburg, PA; and Kelly Bailey, El Paso, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Emma and James Moreno. Nieces and nephews Will Hall, Jill Tekampe, Robert and Cliff Cosgrove, Craig Lucht, and Carolyn Cosgrove Henne. In addition, surviving are her sister-in-law Maureen Cosgrove and her close cousins Ann Taylor Kelly, William Wood, Tommy Moran, and Jim Lundy.

She was predeceased by her husband of 40 years, son Patrick, her cousin Mildred (Mimi) Lundy Wright, in-laws John (Bucky) and Anne Cosgrove Hall, Jim and Mary Cosgrove Lucht, and John P. Cosgrove.

A Transferal Service will be held on Saturday, November 13^th, 2021, at 10:30 A.M. from the Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St Basil’s Church, Dushore, PA with the Rev. Thomas J. Major, her pastor, presiding. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart cemetery, Laporte.

Friends and family may call on Friday, November 12, 2021, at the Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St, Dushore, PA, from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.

Memorials can be sent to the Sullivan County Food Pantry, PO Box 55, Dushore, PA, 18614 or the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, Box 2083, Williamsport, Pa 17703.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA 18614. 

To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to homerfuneralhome.com. 

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