Mary Ann (Cavanaugh) Mort

Mary Ann Mort (Cavanaugh), 89, of Wilmington, passed away at home surrounded by her family on August 24, 2021.   She was born on December 8, 1931, to the late Thomas J. Cavanaugh and Rita M. Myers.   She graduated from Nanty Glo High School in Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania.   She met and married the love of her life, Edward T. Mort, Sr. and they celebrated their 70th anniversary on January 4, 2021.   

They relocated to Wilmington, Delaware where she devoted her life to raising six children.  Mom always made our birthdays special by cooking our favorite meal no matter what we requested. She also made the holidays special. She loved dressing us up and would take us to DiMauro's to get our dresses and bonnets for Easter Sunday.  She liked to sew and would make matching dresses for us.  She cooked big Thanksgiving dinners and made her special homemade cakes at Christmas.  She loved sitting on the porch at her beach house in Oak Orchard.   Our dad had a CB radio on the boat to communicate with her while out on the water.  Her handle was "Big Mac".   We would let her know when we were coming home and she would always have dinner ready upon our arrival.  She loved watching her daughters play basketball and never missed a game.  She also went on many school trips.  Mom was so proud of her only son, Eddie, especially when he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a police officer.  Our parents enjoyed going on cruises with family and friends and you could always find her at a slot machine in the casinos.   She also loved going to the casino at Delaware Park.  Mom was a die-hard Phillies and Eagles fan and would always wear her team attire on game day.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edward T. Mort, Sr.; her son, Edward T. Mort, Jr.; grandsons, David Troise & T.J. Mort; and her son-in-law, Joe Pulgini.  She was also predeceased by her brothers, George, Joseph (her twin), James, Gerald and Daniel.  

She will be sadly missed by her daughters, Jeanie Mort-Troise (Nick), Carol Pulgini (Joe), Kathy Nagle (Tom), Tricia Phillips, and Maryann Mort (Bob Van Heek); her grandchildren, Daniel Troise, Mary Ann Pulgini Dallatore (Anthony), Cristal Pulgini Murch (Sean), Edward T. Mort, III (Lacey) and Tyler Phillips; her great grandchildren, Donte & Sebastian Dallatore, Sawyer Murch, Dominik Troise, Cora Mort and Paisley Mort; and her granddogs, Lexi & Breeze.  She is also survived by her brothers, Paul and Michael, and sister, Ellen Merlo.

Mom cared deeply for her family and always provided love and support.  She was a great listener, very protective, open-minded and down to earth.  She was our rock.  While we will greatly miss her, we find comfort knowing that she is with our dad again.  

The family would like to thank the nurses from Compassionate Care for their support and excellent care they provided.

A funeral service will be celebrated at 1:00pm on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808, where family and friends may visit beginning at 11:30am. Interment will be private. 

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