Mary Elizabeth Grab Buser

Mary Elizabeth Grab Buser, 80, of Youngsville, North Carolina passed away, Thursday morning, February 24, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on January 25, 1942, to the late Robert Michael Grab and Mary Mahon Grab.

Mary was the oldest daughter in her family of nineteen brothers and sisters.  She graduated from St. Joseph School of Nursing in June 1962.  Mary’s close high school friend, Virginia ‘Ginny’ Buser, introduced Mary to her brother, Donald Raymond Buser.  Mary and Don were later married on December 26, 1962, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Mary and Don lived in Harrisburg for a short while before moving to Morrisville, Pennsylvania, where their three oldest sons were born. The growing family then moved to South Plainfield, New Jersey, where their three daughters were born. The family then moved to Croton, near Flemington, New Jersey, where their youngest son was born.  Concern for the education of their children drove Mary and Don to move the family to Nokesville, Virginia so their children could attend Seton School in Manassas. Mary and Don were both very active with the Seton School community.  After their youngest child had graduated Seton, Mary and Don moved Madison, Virginia.  In 2005, Mary moved her and Don to Erwin, North Carolina to force Don to retire. In 2014, Mary and Don moved once again to Youngsville, North Carolina, both for the purpose of “downsizing” and because Mary liked St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Mary was a registered nurse.  She worked in the pediatric unit at Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton, Virginia and later she worked in geriatrics at both Blue Ridge Christian Home in Bealeton, Virginia and Mountain View Nursing Home in Madison, Virginia.

Mary was a life-long practicing Catholic and throughout her life she was a Catechist and actively involved in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, the Legion of Mary, Regnum Christi, a founding member of Discerning Women, and was a co-founder and teacher of Atrium at St. Catherine of Siena.

Mary loves the Lord, her Catholic Faith, her husband Don, her 7 children and their spouses, her 46 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, her country, and people of all cultures.  Mary loved gardening, flowers, mountains, beaches and nature in all its forms.

Mary’s last and ongoing wish is for all of us to love one another as Christ loves us.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 o’clock, Friday morning, March 4, 2022, at Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Wake Forest, North Carolina. Burial will follow at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.

Mary is survived by her husband of 59 years, Donald Buser, children, Michael Buser & wife Dawn of Manassas, Virginia, Charles Buser of Warrenton, Virginia, Vincent Buser & wife Michalene of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Maria Hartung & husband Paul of Manassas, Virginia, Margaret Tooley & husband Paul of Fuquay-Varina, Catherine White & husband Steven of Williamsburg, Virginia and Francis Buser & wife Christine of Wake Forest, North Carolina, 46 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren, 14 siblings and one adopted sibling; extended family and numerous friends made throughout the years.

In lieu of flowers, Mary requested that masses be said for the repose of her soul.

Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the Rosary beginning at 5 p.m., Thursday evening, March 3, 2022, at Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, 1051 Durham Road, Wake Forest (919-556-7400).

Please note the Rosary will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the beginning of the visitation on Thursday, March 3, 2022.

www.cswfuneralhome.com