Mary Jean Ropel

Mary Jean Ropel, 87, passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior on July 20, 2025, after a life devoted to love, service, and faith.

Born on October 6, 1938, in San Diego, California, Mary Jean grew up as a military dependent, living on various bases across the country and abroad—including San Diego, Guam, and Washington, D.C. These formative years instilled in her a deep resilience and adaptability, qualities that would sustain her throughout her life.

In 1959, Mary Jean graduated from the Providence College of Nursing in Oakland, CA, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Her first assignment took her to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where she met the love of her life, Joseph Ropel. Their bond quickly deepened, and they were married on September 30, 1961, at the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Buttonwood, Pennsylvania.

Not long into their marriage, Mary Jean was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis—a burden she carried with extraordinary grace and unwavering faith. Despite the challenges she faced, her radiant smile never faded. Her quiet strength and enduring spirit offered comfort and inspiration to everyone she encountered.

Mary Jean’s greatest joy was her family, whom she cherished deeply. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Joseph; her children, Fr. Mark Ropel and Linda Theodore (and son-in-law Terry); her beloved grandchildren, Michael, Christian, Grace, and Sutton; and her great-grandchild, Henry. Though she is no longer with us, her soul now rests in the eternal embrace of God’s mercy and love.

A funeral Mass celebrating Mary Jean’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on July 25, 2025, at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church. She will be laid to rest the following day at 11 a.m. on July 26, 2025, at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, Orange, California.

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