Rest in Peace Mrs. DeBlasio our Friend, Teacher and Colleague

MaryBeth DeBlasio (Mary Elizabeth Walsh) went to her eternal home on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, after a three-year journey with lung cancer. MaryBeth was grateful for the opportunity to have lived a blessed life. Born on October 3, 1961 to Regina and Joseph Thomas Walsh Sr. (deceased) in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, she attended Catholic schools all her life. From a very young age, she wanted to be a religion teacher in a Catholic school just like the IHM nuns who taught her: JOYful, loving, creative, faith-filled.
MaryBeth earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Religious Studies and English from Marywood University and a Master of Arts (MA) in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. She began her teaching career, living in a convent, as a lay associate with the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Scranton). Since 1983, she worked as a religion teacher, a retreat facilitator, a Campus Minister, and an English adjunct professor. Most of her teaching years were spent at Donovan Catholic High School. MaryBeth considered the opportunity to learn and pray with her students a gift.
Besides teaching, MaryBeth loved music, reading, kayaking and hiking with her husband, “date nights” at Barnes and Noble, creating retreats and prayer experiences, and swimming. There are few things she enjoyed more than listening to her daughter, Anna, sing.
MaryBeth is survived by her “one and only love,” Dominick, husband of 32 years; daughter, Anna, and her fiancé, Ryan Andrews; parents Regina and Robert Lewis (stepfather); brother, Joseph Walsh Jr.; and her sister and best friend, Bernadette Walsh. She is also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers-and-sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, and friends.
She considered her co-workers her family, so she is survived by the faculty and staff of Donovan Catholic High School and her “faith family” at St. Joseph’s Church, Toms River. She is also survived by her brother priests with whom she served over many years.
MaryBeth left this earth with gratitude for her healing team at the University of Pennsylvania, especially Dr. Justine Cohen and Marianna Schreiner, NP, and all those who accompanied her on her journey home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in MaryBeth’s name to the Donovan Catholic Advancement Office. Attn: Jeanmarie Lamme, 711 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08753.

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Rest in Peace