Rosaria Motisi Luddy

Rosaria (Sarah) Luddy, 89, of Bowie, MD, passed away Sunday, July 1, 2018. In death, as in life, she followed her husband of over 60 years, Frederick J. Luddy, who passed away on January 12, 2014.  She was a devout member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and attended mass there with her husband and other members of her family.

Born October 1, 1928, she was the 9th child of 10 born to Anthony and Rosaria (Sarah) Motisi. Raised in Madison, Wisconsin, in an area called Greenbush, she was part of a close-knit, largely Italian immigrant community. She attended local public schools and upon graduating entered nursing school. After obtaining her nursing credentials, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and received her commission. She was stationed in Rapid City, South Dakota, and eventually in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

The U.S. Air Force introduced her to the love of her life, Frederick J. Luddy, who at the time was an Air Force pilot. They were married on November 7, 1953, and over the next several years, they established their own family and relocated between PA, OH, NY and finally MD. With the arrival of their first child, Sarah became a full-time mother and homemaker and put her nursing career aside. They moved to Bowie, MD in January 1963.

They had 10 children over a span of 14 years. When the youngest began school, Sarah returned to nursing, taking a refresher course and then serving at Prince George’s Hospital. She retired as a Night Nurse Administrator in 1992 to attend to family needs, eventually performing volunteer work at the Bowie Health Center for several years.  

Predeceased by her husband Frederick J. Luddy, her daughter Rose Marie Bucy, and all of her sisters and brothers, Sarah is survived by her children: Sarah Maloney, Mary Luddy-Barton, Frederick Luddy, Helen Bramow, Anthony Luddy, Joseph Luddy, Grace Grigg, Tom Luddy and Ann Luddy, as well as 16 grandchildren: Chris Durden, JoAnna Pearce, Nick Zanelotti, Stephanie Tully, Kristy Luddy, Samantha Grigg, Paul Maloney, Sarah Bucy, Jessica Grigg, Joey Luddy, Ryan Maloney, Jaclyn Grigg, James Luddy, Brooke Maloney, Alex Bramow and Bridgette Bramow, and 4 great-grandchildren: Courtney Rose Smith, Brendan Zanelotti, Edward Grigg II and Dominick Zanelotti.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 from 6 to 8pm at the family-owned Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Hwy. (Rt. 3 South), Bowie, MD. A funeral mass will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 14720 Annapolis Rd. Bowie, MD on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at 12pm, with interment following at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville, MD. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to The Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, P.O. Box 17029, Baltimore, MD 21297.