Mary Armstrong

Mary Josephine Armstrong, age 87, of Longwood, Florida, peacefully went home to be with Jesus on April 3, 2025. Born on May 20, 1937, in Danville, Pennsylvania, Mary Jo was the beloved oldest daughter of Joseph Samuel Pedron and Mary Madaline Dulis Pedron and was raised in Kulpmont, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. She attended St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Elementary School and was a devout Catholic throughout her life. Mary Jo was a Girl Scout and also learned how to sew. She took dance, acrobatic and baton lessons. She was popular with the boys, who were attracted by her beauty, charm and red hair. She was also an honor student, graduating from Mt. Carmel Catholic High School in 1955.

With an adventurous spirit, Mary Jo left small-town Kulpmont for big-city life in Philadelphia. There she met the love of her life, Jim Nolff, at a USO dance for young soldiers. They were married on September 8, 1956. When Jim was discharged from the army, they moved to his hometown of Dearborn, Michigan but soon relocated to Norristown, Pennsylvania, to raise their family.

Together, Mary Jo and Jim had six children. Even with all those kids to raise, Mary Jo still found time to work part-time at St. Vincent's Home for Unwed Mothers and as a bank teller. They attended St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, which became the epicenter of their life, and made many lifelong friends there. Jim worked as an electrical technician for General Electric until his untimely passing on December 22, 1972, due to a hereditary heart condition. Despite the immense challenge of raising six young children on her own, Mary Jo's strength and determination never wavered. She focused on giving her kids a loving and stable upbringing.

A few years after Jim's passing, she met Thomas Armstrong, and the two married on July 3, 1975. They moved to Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and later to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Mary Jo managed their rental properties. In 1980, the family made their final move to Longwood, Florida. There, Mary Jo became deeply involved in her community. She was an active member of Annunciation Catholic Church, where she volunteered regularly and helped organize parish events. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and served on her local homeowners' association. Never one to sit still, she earned her real estate license and became a successful multi-million dollar producer. When Tom became ill in the early 1990s, Mary Jo stepped away from her career to care for him full-time until his passing on June 15, 2010.

Mary Jo lived a full and vibrant life. She loved to dance, play cards, host gatherings, volunteer, and spend time with friends and family. She is survived by her six children - Diane, Debra, Gregory, Glenn, James, and Joseph - as well as her stepdaughter Lori. She is also survived by her two sisters, Jeraldine and Roberta, along with 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Mary Jo's unwavering faith, love of life, and devotion to her family will be remembered and cherished by all who knew her.

A celebration of life will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church, 1020 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 on May 23, 2025, at 1:30 PM, followed by a private ceremony for family at Highland Memory Gardens, 3328 E. Semoran Blvd, Apopka, FL 32703. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary Jo Armstrong's memory may be made to the  The Autoimmune Association