Mary Ellen McGroarty Folta, 73, of Olney, Maryland, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on February 21, 1953, to the late Daniel and Florence McGroarty.

Mary Ellen graduated from James M. Coughlin High School and from Kutztown University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Education in 1975, where she met her future husband, David. She was a member of St. Peter’s Church in Olney, Maryland.

She enjoyed spending time with her beloved grandchildren, who will cherish the memories of her teaching them how to bake, garden, sew, write cursive, and use an electric knife to cut meat properly for Sunday supper. She treated each one individually, taking them on special day trips together.

Mary Ellen loved to travel with her husband, David, taking numerous domestic and international trips. Her favorite destinations included Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, Prague, France, Greece, Yellowstone, and a trip to Rome where she enjoyed a Papal audience at the Vatican.

Her hobbies included sewing, cooking, crafting, reading, gardening, and challenging herself to difficult puzzles.

She was a volunteer with the Senior Outdoor Adventures in Recreation (SOAR) program with Montgomery County. At SOAR, she enjoyed many adventures with her close friends, including sailing trips, tea lunches, and evenings at the dinner theatre.

Mary and Dave recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a gathering of family and friends at Folino Estate Winery in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, on their wedding date, November 15th, 2025.

In addition to her beloved husband David, she was a devoted mother to Jennifer Folta Teitelbaum and her husband Michael, Timothy Folta and his wife Stefania, Pamela Folta, and Michael Folta. Mary Ellen was the cherished grandmother to Brianna and Matthew Teitelbaum and Vivian, Camille, Wesley, and Benjamin Folta. She was the treasured sister of Daniel McGroarty, Jr. and wife Natalie, Thomas McGroarty and wife Joanne, Joan Caffrey and husband Edward, sister-in-law Catherine McGroarty, and the late Gerard McGroarty and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Parish, 2900 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 11am. Friends may call from 10am until the time of service.

Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Saturday, May 16, at 12:30pm, in Wilkes-Barre. Friends may call from 11am-12pm at Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home at 89 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre.