Angela Rooney

On Saturday, August 20, 2016 of Washington, D.C. Beloved wife of 60 years to Thomas "Tom" P. Rooney. Wonderful mother of Kate Rooney Miskovsky and the late Christopher Rooney. Loving grandma of Alex, Megan, Lauren Miskovsky, and Alexis Rooney. Sister of the late William Bayer and Joan Severin. Survived by her daughter-in-law Kimberley Rooney, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors. Angela enjoyed an active childhood in the small, beautiful town of Lehighton, PA. After successful high school years, she went on to live an extraordinary life, describing herself as an Artist, Actress, and Activist. Pursuing her love of art, she received a BFA from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. She then served three years in the American Red Cross during WWII as a recreation director in rehab hospitals in the South. Numerous jobs followed, including Program Director for the NY Botanical Society, and Exhibition Designer for the DuPont Company in Wilmington, DE. Angela rekindled her interest in acting which led to many parts with the Wilmington Drama League. Pursuing this interest she moved to Washington, D.C. to take advanced acting classes with the renowned Father Hartke at Catholic University. This led to a job in the early days of TV with the Mark Evans Show on CBS WTOP, where she modeled and assisted with interviews. Following her marriage in 1957 to her devoted husband Tom, and purchasing their beloved Victorian house in Brookland, Angela began her career as an activist of which she was most passionate and proud. Once she heard that the city planned to build a freeway through her neighborhood, she took action. This led to working side by side with Sam Abbott and the Emergency Committee on the Transportation Crisis, ultimately stopping the freeway from destroying the heart of DC. Angela was active with many civic organizations, through grants and volunteer work. These included the NCTC, UNCC, preservation of Brooks Mansion, The McMillan Sand Filtration site, trash transfer station issues, Armed Forces Retirement Home development and fighting for the development of the Metro System. She was frequently called upon to testify before District and National hearings and wrote numerous articles about these issues. During these years of activism Angela also worked as manager for the Kennedy Center Theater Chamber Players and enjoyed working special events at the National Gallery of Art. She was a wonderful wife and mother throughout, surviving the devastating loss of her son Chris. Angela remained an activist, and up until her final month you would find her on the phone, lipstick on, voicing her opinion and providing support. A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 1029 Monroe Street, NE, Washington, DC on Friday, August 26 at 10 AM. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to Capital Caring Hospice, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042.

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