Lisa Suzanne Young Donely passed away on October 14, 2024, at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. Lisa was born in Florala, Alabama on April 22, 1938, the daughter of Dr. Ferrin Young and Jennie Lurie. She attended primary and secondary school in Alabama and Florida, and then went on to receive her B.A. degree from Newcomb College in Louisiana. After college, she completed graduate work at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

While in college, Lisa met George A.T. Donely, of New Orleans, LA; he promptly fell in love with her. After turning down his first proposal, letting him know she needed to finish school first, she finally gave in when he called her in the middle of the night from an overseas work trip. Lisa and George were married in 1963 in Ft. Walton Beach, FL.

Once married, Lisa and George lived and travelled all over the world thanks to George’s job with the U.S. Foreign Service. They spent significant time in Pakse, Laos and Mashad, Iran which provided Lisa with incredible experiences and stories to last a lifetime. While in Iran, Lisa was president of the Iran America Society.

Upon returning to the United States around 1969, Lisa developed a small chocolate import business and became active in Washington D.C.’s civic and social life. She and George then purchased a manor house in St. Mary’s County, MD where they officially moved with their daughter, Valerie, around 1990. Lisa spent the next 18 years raising Valerie and teaching French at Our Lady Star of the Sea School in Solomons, MD.

Lisa was a member of the Sulgrave Club in Washington, D.C., the St. Mary’s River Yacht Club and the St. Mary’s County Garden Club. She spoke three languages fluently, enjoyed playing piano, gardening and cooking.

Lisa was preceded in death by her husband, George, who passed in 2017. She is survived by her daughter, Valerie J.Y. Donely of Washington, D.C. and her cousin, Dr. Alan Sheen of New Orleans, LA, along with many other relatives, friends and cats.

The family will receive friends at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Monday, October 28, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM with prayers recited at 11:30 AM, and a Mass of Christian Burial to follow with Rev. Benjamin Garcia officiating. She will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton, MD in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad – LPVRS, P.O. Box 339, Lexington Park, MD 20653.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.