Obituary of Mary L. Dare

Mary Lotz Dare of Horsham, PA passed away peacefully at the age of 73 on Thursday, February 2, 2023, with her beloved husband and daughter by her side. Mary was known for her jolly demeanor, her practical jokes and her extensive contributions and service to Horsham Township, as well as the deep love she held for her family. Mary was born on September 28, 1949 to the late Jack and Evelyn Lotz. She was a 1967 graduate of Abington Friends School, after which she attended Lynchburg College in Virginia, where she met and married her husband, Craig, on August 16th, 1969. After graduating in 1972 with her BA in English and MA in teaching, Mary worked as a reading specialist in the Lynchburg public school system. In the early 1970s, Mary and Craig moved to Horsham, PA, where Mary began working as a 5th grade teacher at Blair Mill Elementary School. Mary loved being in the classroom, and especially enjoyed taking her students to College Settlement Camp, where she remained incredibly involved throughout her life. In 1979, Mary put much of her energy into caring for her children, devoting her time to volunteering in the classroom and on field trips, and supporting them in their extracurricular activities. During this time Mary started Horsham Valley development, a commercial real estate company. She was responsible for the development and construction of many commercial properties in the Horsham area. Mary found her true calling in 1985 when she purchased Otto's Brauhaus in Horsham, where she fostered a community of staff and patrons alike. Otto's was her second home, and she thrived in the hustle & bustle of it all. Mary was a strong supporter of the community she lived in, and loved Horsham like it was one of her children. She nurtured it and watched it grow. Her passion for public service was infectious, and she would constantly encourage and inspire others to speak up, volunteer and take action to make their community a better place. She attended Rotary meetings weekly, and was a huge advocate for their mission. She was involved in the creation and planning of Everybody's Playground in Horsham. She was a board member at College Settlement Camp, and could always be found selling tickets or serving food at their annual June Supper. Mary served on the board of the Horsham Parks and Recreation committee. She was a founding member and former President of the Friends of Horsham Library, where she organized countless author events and book drives. On Election Day, you could find Mary volunteering at the polls, as a Republican Party committee member, greeting each voter with her signature grin and a sparkle in her eyes. She was a founding member of the Horsham Chamber of Commerce. Mary's favorite event was Horsham Day, where she spent years as an integral part of its planning and execution. Most of all, she loved to close out the day by sharing a sweet treat and watching the fireworks with her grandchildren. Mary's greatest joy and delight was her grandchildren. She loved taking them on adventures, playing Toontown on the computer, letting them win at board games, sharing a pack of Oreos, and reading to them when they were little. She never missed a show, concert, sporting event, or a chance to volunteer in their classrooms. She loved spending summer weekends down the shore with her family, collecting seashells and making "drippy castles" out of sand at the oceans edge with her littlest companions. During the last few summers she could be found sitting by the pool and taking in all of the shenanigans of her kids, grandkids and their friends with her cherished dog, Leo, by her side. She loved to make others laugh with her offbeat sense of humor and pranks. She enjoyed watching Blue Bloods with Craig, some ruffles chips, and a can of Coke. Craig was her faithful and constant partner for over 54 years. Their love and devotion to each other was unmatched. Mary is survived by her husband, Craig Dare; her children: Michael Dare (Kiera), Chrissy Derbyshire (Ron); her grandchildren Hayley, Brennan, Olivia, Millie, Alex and Henry; her sister Joan Subotnick (Mort) and by her beloved dog, Leo. Memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 17, 2023, Helweg & Rowland Funeral Home, 1500 Old York, Road, Abington, where relatives and friends will be received from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to one of the organizations near and dear to Mary's heart: College Settlement Camp (www.collegesettlementcamp.org), Horsham Rotary Foundation (www.horshamrotary.org)