Mary Alice Hallman's Obituary
Mary Alice (Eckenrode) Hallman, age 58 of Millsboro, DE passed away on May 18, 2021 at home surrounded by family following a courageous two-year fight with Stage 4 colon cancer. She waged the battle with an attitude of joy and thankfulness for so many blessings that came to light during the trial. She was born on May 17, 1963 in Meadowbrook, PA and was the daughter of William and Rita (Nolin) Eckenrode.
Mary Alice was a retired middle school teacher, most recently at St. John School in Westminster, MD and previously in Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Maryland. The last formal teaching was in the GED program in Carroll County, MD where she helped people with a variety of ages and backgrounds begin to believe in their potential and ability when so many had given up on school and were simply trying to check a box for the diploma. In all teaching Mary Alice thrived on creating fresh ways for different people to understand similar concepts. She was a graduate of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in Westminster, MD.
In addition to teaching, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of being a mother to three wonderful children. She gained two wonderful daughters-in-law through her sons. In her spare time, she was an avid reader, and on any warm day you could find her outside with a book, taking in the sun, preferably by the water. She enjoyed organizing anything and everything from birthday parties to family gatherings to class rosters and puzzle pieces. She enjoyed creating craft ideas for her children and most recently for her beautiful grandsons. Summer was never just time away from teaching in the classroom but an opportunity for her children to learn and create new things in settings outside the four walls of school. Mary Alice always put others before herself, especially her family. Encouragement was her gift.
In addition to her father William, she is survived by her loving and grateful husband, George Scott Hallman; her sons: David S. Hallman and his wife Patricia of Towson, MD, and Andrew W. Hallman and his wife Andrea of Baltimore, MD; her daughter, Amy L. Hallman of Towson, MD; her grandsons: Charlie (son of David and Patricia) and Ollie (son of Andrew and Andrea); her sisters: Kathleen Romano (Vince) of New Smyrna Beach, FL, Judy Kron (Robert) of Lansdale, PA, and Diane Benson (John) of Ellicott City, MD; her brother, William A. Eckenrode of Moorestown, NJ; her sister-in-law, Sandra Holladay (Glenn) of Charlotte, NC; and her brother-in-law, Mike Hallman of Hartsville, SC.
Mary Alice was so very thankful for the caring and supportive oncology nurses, front desk staff, phlebotomists, and oncologists at the Beebe Tunnell Cancer Center. She received wonderful care from the doctors and staff in the radiology/sonography department and others at Beebe Hospital, including the kind and caring meal planners during in-patient stays. Her very special nurses at Beebe Home Health Care will never be forgotten.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 11:00 AM, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, where friends may visit beginning at 10:00 AM.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing protocols must be observed, and masks must be worn by everyone participating in any aspect of the service.
All who cannot attend in person are invited to join the services via live streaming by visiting the following link: http://www.parsellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/permalink/9976797/LTWebcast
Memorial contributions may be made in Mary Alice's memory to: Tunnell Cancer Center at https://www.beebehealthcare.org/beebe-medical-foundation/donate/memorial-gifts and specifying Oncology Patient Special Needs Fund or Tunnell Cancer Center, or by calling (302) 644-2900, or Calvert Hall College High School, 8102 La Salle Road, Baltimore, MD 21286, specifying Tuition Assistance, or https://www.calverthall.com, or Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963, or delawarehospice.org.
Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?