Mary Clare Condon McElwee (Condon)

Mary Clare Condon McElwee, 86, loving wife of Thomas “Les” McElwee, Sr., entered into eternal rest, on Sunday, January 3, 2016. Mary Clare was born on Wednesday, July 3, 1929, in Charleston, SC, a daughter of the late Martha Teresa Igoe Condon and the late Matthew A. Condon, Sr. Mary Clare was a devoted wife, a loving, caring mother and teacher. She was raised in Charleston, and attended Sacred Heart Grammar School, Bishop England High School and Barry College in Miami, FL. Mary Clare was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She met Les while he was attending the Citadel as a veteran student, and they were married at Stella Maris Catholic Church on Sullivan’s Island on August 16, 1952. They lived in several locations in South Carolina, but returned to Charleston in 1960. Mary Clare was a kindergarten teacher at Nativity Catholic School, and lived with her family on James Island for 48 years. She was very involved in her children’s schools, sporting events, piano lessons and sewing classes. Mary Clare and Les always made sure the entire family attended Nativity Catholic Church every Sunday. Mary Clare was a firm believer in being there for her family, friends and strangers when they were in need. She took in and cared for her aging mother-in-law, guided eight children to adulthood, and helped shape the lives of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary Clare is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Les McElwee of Charleston, SC; five sons, all of Charleston, SC: Jack and his wife, Denise; Tommy and his wife, Polly; Matthew and his wife Cheri; Timmy and his wife, Mary; and Kevin; three daughters, all of Charleston, SC: Caroline Newton and her husband, Lee; Emily delMas and her husband, Bruce; and Kathleen Dille and her husband, James; fifteen grandchildren: Johnny McElwee, Jr.; Allison Chavis and her husband, Nick; Donnie Newton and Andrew Newton; Jennifer Dziengielewski and her husband, Alex; Danny delMas and his wife, Amanda; Katie Rechenbach and her husband, Travis; Thomas McElwee, III; Melissa McElwee; Holly McConnell and her husband, James; Kathryn McElwee and Christopher McElwee; Stephen Dille, Tucker Dille and Hannah Dille; eight great-grandchildren: Caleb Adams, Tripp Mizzell, Lauren Dziengielewski, Gaven and Barrick delMas, Skyler and Elizabeth McConnell, and Clayton Rechenbach. She is also survived by her sister, Sr. Elizabeth Condon, OP, of Adrian, MI; two sisters-in-law: Clare Bendziewicz of Chapin, SC and Mary Witt of East Hanover, NJ; and 20 nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Mary Clare is preceded in death by two brothers: Matthew Condon, Jr. and James Condon; two sisters: Martha Condon and Mary Caroline Condon; and one great-grandson, Jayse Parker McElwee. The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 7, 2016, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, with a rosary at 6:00pm, at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home West Ashley Chapel on Bees Ferry Road. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1695 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd., Charleston, SC 29407, at 10:30am, on Friday, January 8, 2016, with Rev. Gabriel J. Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church for the Athletic Fund, 1695 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd., Charleston, SC 29407 or Bishop England High School for the Endowment Fund, 363 Seven Farms Drive, Charleston, SC 29492. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, (843) 722-8371.

Visitation:
Thursday, January 7, 2016