Mary Frances Bischoff (Conlon)

Mary Frances Conlon Bischoff, 94, of Mt. Pleasant, SC died on Wednesday, February 4, 2015. Mary Frances was born on Tuesday, November 30, 1920 in Charleston, SC to the late Theodosia R Conlon and the late Garret A Conlon. She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Richard J. Bischoff Sr., of Mt. Pleasant; two sons, Alan B. Bischoff (Carol), and Richard J. Bischoff Jr. (Tina, deceased), both of Mt. Pleasant. She is also survived by her grandchildren Melissa Peckham (Steve), Brian Dobson, Rhett Leonard, Kevin Blackwell, Nicholas Bischoff, Olivia Bischoff, and Christian Bischoff, her cousin Joyce Dunaway (Gene deceased) and her sons’ Trayser and Rhett Dunaway, her cousin, Michael Robinson (Carolyn Epperly) and their daughters, Keely Conlon Robinson (TC), Ciara Epperly-Robinson Lemery (Robbie) and Caitrin Bridget Robinson, and sons-in-law Gary W. Dobson and Jim Blackwell. She was predeceased by her daughters, Anne Marie Dobson, Elizabeth (Beth) Conlon Blackwell, and her brothers Garret A. Conlon Jr. and William T. Conlon. Mary Frances graduated Bishop England High School and attended the College of Charleston. She worked at Santee Cooper downtown (her father would not allow her to work outside of downtown when Santee Cooper moved to Moncks Corner) and at SCE&G. Growing up in Ansonborough Mary Frances was one of Traynor Ferrillos’ cohorts in his skits and musicals. Music and dancing were special to her throughout her life from neighborhood productions to USO dances attending the Footlight Players and the Dock St. Theatre. Swing, Big Bands and jazz were her favorites and on any given day we kids would return from school and mom would be dancing by herself to sounds of Glen Miller on the hi-fi. Mom was dancing, by herself, well into her eighties. Mary Frances was an avid gardener and took great delight in the butterflies and hummingbirds that stopped by to sample her work. She was active in the Groves Garden Club for many years. Mary Frances was also active in the East Cooper Republican Women’s Club and especially enjoyed working the shrimp dinners at Alhambra Hall. With four years of Latin at B.E. help with homework was never an easy question, “that’s Latin for” or “what’s the prefix’ usually brought a groan from us kids and not a quick answer. This love of Latin transitioned to mom and dad’s love of gardening and in today’s parlance “too much information” on plant names. Mom and Dad met a few years after WWII at the Azalea Festival. Mom on the Queen’s Court Committee and Dad on the Escort Committee and love blossomed. Four children followed and as busy as mom was she found time to earn some spending money selling World Book Encyclopedia. The extra money may have helped stretch the budget too. Mom’s faith and love of God helped her through the deaths of her two daughters. And mom’s love of her life, Dick, was by her side. Mary Frances, Mary, Mom and Grandmomma will be greatly missed by her family and friends. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 8, 2015 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, where the rosary will be recited at 5 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Christ Our King Catholic Church on Monday, February 09, 2015 at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow in the Mt. Pleasant Memorial Gardens cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in her name to Bishop England High School, “The Annual Fund”, 363 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island, 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, MT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1520 RIFLE RANGE ROAD, MT PLEASANT, SC (843) 884-3833.