Alice-Mary Eleanor Lawler (nee Rooney), formerly of Yardley, PA and Longport, NJ, passed away on April 17, 2021 at her home in Philadelphia, PA, one day shy of her 93rd birthday.

Daughter of the late Joseph Francis Rooney and Margaret Morrow Rooney, Alice-Mary was born in Philadelphia on April 18, 1928.  Alice-Mary was the beloved wife of the late John A. "Jack" Lawler, Jr.  Devoted mother of Maggi Lawler Kirk (Jonathan). She is aso survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins and dear friends.

Alice-Mary attended Merion Mercy Academy and, then, graduated from Rosemont College and studied for a MA in Education at Rutgers University.  After college she began her career as an elementary school teacher at the Benjamin B. Comegys Elementary School in Philadelphia. She went on to teach first grade for 15-years at Monument School in Trenton NJ.  Enjoying 62-years of marriage to her adoring husband, Jack, the couple were avid theatre goers, arts and culture lovers. They loved adventure and meeting new people whether it was when traveling overseas or, going up the street to the local Deli. As a widow, Alice-Mary continued in that tradition supporting artists scholarships at PAFA, keeping up with her museum memberships, going to the theatre, making new friends and staying connected to longtime friends. Alice-Mary was that special kind of friend who made a conscience decision to see the best in people. She could spin a great yarn like nobody's business and was equally interested in listening to other people's stories. The  family wishes to recognize and thank Alice-Mary's Kennedy House buddies, Marcia Halbert and Sara Russock who became fast friends when they took her under their wing shortly after Jack passed. They became a happy band of three eating out or eating in, making a dent in the local Dollar Store's inventory and enjoying season tickets at the Arden. During the COVID lockdown they managed to be socially distance to celebrate all the high holidays together this past December.  Deepest gratitude to Dr. Lillian Cohn, Alice-Mary's primary physician, for her 15-years of dedicated care, to Stephanie Smith, Alice-Mary's daily caregiver over the last 4-months, to Father Timothy Danaher, a good and true friend, to PennMed Hospice and a special thanks to the staff at the Kennedy House in particular, April Huggins and Navita Cyril who who always offer a kind word to the residents and visitors as they come and go through the Kennedy House lobby.

Relatives and friends are invited on Monday April 26th, 9:30 Visitation followed by 10:00 AM Funeral Mass, St. Patrick Church, 20th & Locust Sts., Philadelphia PA.  Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.  Covid-19 protocols are to be followed at all venues.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Alice-Mary's name to Rosemont College , 1400 Montgomery Ave., Rosemont PA 19010, or to Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts , 118-128 N. Broad St., Philadelphia PA 19102 or to CureDementia Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation , PO Box 826728, Philadelphia PA 19182-6728 or to Merion Mercy Academy 511 Montgomery Ave., Merion PA 19066.