Obituary of Mary Callen

Mary Callen, 91, of Morgantown, passed away Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Monongalia General Hospital. She was born in Morgantown on August 21, 1924, the daughter of the late Joe and Rose Billotti Biafora. Mary was a 1942 graduate of Morgantown High School and attended WVU, where she earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education. She was also a certified Librarian. She taught in a two-room elementary school heated by a wood stove at Bertha Hill near Osage, and also taught English at St. Francis High School. Mary married the love of her life, Stephen A. Callen, on August 29, 1948. In 1958, Mary and her husband assumed operations of the Morgantown Business College, which ultimately became part of the WVJC College System. Mary was a member of the Beta Iota Sorority, Beau Monte Dance Club, the Elks Club, and many local bridge clubs, as well as an active supporter of local public theater and different charities throughout the community. She was an active board member of the Foundation Board of Mon General Hospital, a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club and a lifelong member of the Auxiliary of Mon General Hospital. Mary took great pride in her role as a traditional wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt of Italian heritage. She was the quintessential Italian grandmother who deeply loved her family and friends, and was loved by all who knew her. She was always ready to prepare a meal or help in any way she could to make others’ lives a little better. Mary had exceptional culinary talents and, like her mother before, she loved to cook for family and friends, especially her children and grandchildren, and their friends. She also hosted many dinners for her bridge group and others. Her signature dessert was an incredible sponge cake, which she made from a recipe her mother passed on to her many decades ago. Whenever a friend or family member was ill, or there was a death in the family, or an occasion to celebrate, she would bake a sponge cake and deliver it with a note that read “From the Kitchen of Mary Callen.” Mary beamed with pride when talking about her home state of West Virginia and especially her beloved WVU Mountaineers. She attended nearly every football and basketball game until her health no longer permitted, and often hosted pre and postgame parties at her home. Over the past 20 years, she spent her winters living with her daughters in Florida. She brought her charm and her traditions with her which allowed her to create a second home full of family and friends who adopted her as their Nunny. Mary is survived by her husband of 67 years, Stephen A. Callen; and her children, Stephen J. Callen and wife Lori, Michael K. Callen and wife Cheryl, Annette Howard and husband Bret, and Sharon Rhoads and husband Ron; grandchildren, Stephen C. Callen, Jacob Callen and wife Courtney, Kayla Strimel, Mariah Callen, Melissa Carlucci and husband Art, Michael J. Callen and wife Ashley, Chad Callen, Ashley Tomaszewski and husband Johnathan, Brandy Rachel, Ali Rachel, Jillian Rachel, Zachary Rachel, Ashley Rhoads, Austin Rhoads, Parker Rhoads, Faith Rhoads, and Destiny Rhoads; great-grandchildren, Madison and Brandon Carlucci; brothers, Martin Biafora and wife Ilene, and Frank Biafora. Mary is also survived by several nieces and nephews, as well as Gloria Cunningham, Mary’s closest friend, whom she often referred to as the sister she never had. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Mon General Hospital and The Madison, and for the compassionate and loving care provided to her by Dr. Vincent Kolanko, Dr. David Long (FL) and her caregivers, Evelyn Proffitt, Rebecca Lynn and Elisa Leatherman. Family and friends will be received at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Star City on Friday, April 8th from 1-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Visiting will continue from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with Father John V. DiBacco and Msgr. Anthony Cincinnati, STD, VE as concelebrants. Entombment will follow at St Mary Peace Garden Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s memory to St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 3334 B University Ave., Morgantown, WV 26505 or Christian Help, 219 Walnut St., Morgantown, WV 26505.