Mona Williams, wife of the late Robert “Bob” Williams, and daughter of Murphy Ray & Minnie Crotts of North Carolina, and life-long resident of Washington, D.C., passed away peacefully at the Jeanne Jugan Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor on May 1, 2020. She was 96 years old.
Mona was always a joy to be around, as her spirit and love of life was evident by her smile and sense of humor. After losing her husband and parents, Mona was looked after by a close family friend, The Honorable Vincent “Vinny” J. Femia (Circuit Court Judge, Prince George’s County, Maryland) and his wife Elizabeth “Liz,” who included Mona in countless family gatherings over the years.
Although she was unable to have children of her own, later in life Mona “adopted” another close friend, Monica Ludwig, as her “daughter,” providing many memories of motherly love and wisdom that Monica and her family will cherish. Those memories included many dinners out with Monica’s family at Chadwick’s in Friendship Heights for her favorite meal of a hamburger with a big slice of onion--and maybe even a beer or two, citing her German heritage which she took great pride in.
Mona was a long-time parishioner of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament and was an active and beloved member of the Sanctuary Sodality. Above all, she treasured her Catholic Faith, and was active in parish life including Bible studies, the Mission Fair, and the Sodality Bazaar.
Mona retired on disability from a civil career with the U.S. Navy due to impaired eyesight, and lived on her own ever since her beloved husband, Bob, passed away. He was the love of her life and she frequently told the story of how she spotted him across a room at a dance hall for servicemen and told a priest that she was about to meet the man she would marry. They were, in fact, married 16 months later! Mona missed Bob deeply but would always talk about how blessed she was to have such a joyful life, accepting God’s will in every moment. She was an inspiration and an example of holiness, and in her final days she shared, “I am thankful to God for everything, including the hardships.”
Mona’s good friend Vinny was instrumental in her move to the care of the Little Sisters a few years ago. She had been a caretaker for her parents and her husband, each of whom had prolonged illnesses, so it was only fitting that she would find the comfort of being cared for so lovingly by the sisters, the nurses, staff and doctors in her final years. She was a popular personality at the Little Sisters, where her sense of humor and laugh--and even dancing!--brought joy to her fellow residents and staff. Mona loved stuffed animals, including her favorite that resembled Lassie, which she held closely until her last days.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, in Silver Spring, Maryland at 12:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, Jeanne Jugan Residence, 4200 Harewood Road, N.E., Washington, DC 20017 or http://www.littlesistersofthepoorwashingtondc.org/donations/.
Due to the COVID-19 virus which limits attendance at funerals and burials, we are asking Mona’s friends and loved ones to join together in praying the Holy Rosary at the time of the Funeral Mass.