Mary Louise Crawford

Mary Louise (ML) Crawford died on June 14, 2025. She was 94 years old. She was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia to parents Bonnie and Clyde. ML held a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from West Virginia Wesleyan College, a Master’s degree in Music Research from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and at the age of 61, achieved a Master of Education degree in Library Science from William Paterson University.

ML moved with her family to Ridgewood, NJ from Stamford, CT in 1973, becoming members of West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood. She also attended
Community Bible Study in Midland Park, NJ for over 25 years, and was involved in PEO (a philanthropic organization), Hillside Players theatre company and Parlance Chamber Concerts. ML was an avid reader, passionate music supporter and enthusiastic traveler. She traveled with her children to various European countries in mid-life. In her later years, she took paddlewheel steamboat cruises on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, as well as rivers winding along the Oregon Trail, train tours across Canada and a cruise up into the Scandinavian fjords.

ML had dual teaching careers in music and library science. She taught music at Fairborn High School in Fairborn, OH in the late 1950’s. After raising her children in CT and NJ, she taught music and was librarian at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Ridgewood, NJ, then moved to the New Milford school system to become school librarian for over 10 years. She finished her teaching career as a librarian for Eastern Christian High School in North Haledon, NJ.

Mary Louise married John Everett Crawford in 1955, and was widowed in 1983. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Gai & Mark Grannon, her son and daughter-in-law Craig & Patti Crawford. Also, grandchildren John Patrick Crawford (fiancée Erin Anderson), and Sarah Brewer (Ethan), as well as a sister Karen Groszczyk (Tom) and 3 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Paul, in 2024, and a nephew, David, in 2008.

Interment will be in the West Side Church Memorial Garden. A memorial service will be held 11:30 am on August 16 at West Side Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in ML’s memory to Community Bible Study of Midland Park, or Parlance Chamber Concerts of Ridgewood, NJ 

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