Amelia Louise (Flaherty) Updike

Amelia (Honey) Louise Updike, 81, of Ellicott City, MD peacefully passed away on March 26, 2021 of natural causes.

Amelia, better known as Honey, was born on July 28, 1939 to Andrew Gleason Flaherty & Amelia Louise Rembolt in Washington, DC.  Honey talked fondly of her high school years at the Notre Dame Academy in Washington, DC.  After graduating high school, she attended the Saint Agnes Hospital School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD.  After completing the 3-year program, she briefly worked as a Registered Nurse at Saint Agnes Hospital until becoming a stay-at-home mom.

It was during her nursing school years that she met Ralph Evans Updike, a medical school student working at Saint Agnes Hospital.  During a softball game between the nursing students and medical students, Ralph purposely bumped into Honey as he rounded first base and as they say, the rest was history.

They wed in 1961, going on to have 6 children, Patti Bulger, Jay Updike (Melanie), Keith Updike (Teresa), David Updike (Kelly), the late Will Updike, Jennifer Giannotta (Joe).  She had 16 grandchildren, consisting of Patti’s children: Evan Bulger (Leanne), Ryan Bulger, Tyler Bulger, Tricia Bulger & Maria Bulger; Jay’s children: MacKenzie Updike, Blaire Updike & Reese Updike; Keith’s children: Emily Updike & Abby Updike; David’s children: Andrew Updike, Sean Updike, Matthew Updike, Mary Updike; and Jennifer’s children: Rose Giannotta & Anthony Giannotta; and 3 great grandchildren, Evan’s children, Allan, Calvin & Rose.

As Ralph was establishing his medical practice as a gastroenterologist at Saint Agnes Hospital, where he would remain for his entire career, Ralph & Honey were establishing their family roots in Ellicott City, MD.

Honey was very proud of her family and was involved in all aspects of raising 6 active children.  Honey relied on her nursing degree in caring for her 4th son, Will, who was born with spina bifida and was paralyzed from the waist down.  With the help of Dr. Ben Carson and Honey’s loving care, Will died just shy of his 36th birthday.

Honey was a breast cancer survivor.

She will be greatly missed by her friends and family.

Honey was predeceased by her older sister the late Catherine Gay (Gibson), her brother the late Andrew Flaherty (Joyce), and her younger sister the late Patricia Flaherty, who died as a child. She was also predeceased by her brother Andrew’s children, the late Shawn Flaherty, and the late Kathleen Flaherty.

She is also survived by Catherine’s children: Larry Gay (Judy), Paula Geier (Tom), Debbie Martinko (Tom), by Andrew Flaherty’s children: Michael Flaherty (Nina) and Maureen Flaherty (Russell).

The family will receive friends for visitation on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Candle Light Funeral Home by Craig Witzke, in Catonsville, MD.  Due to Covid restrictions, all attendees are required to wear a face covering, per state regulations. www.candlelightfuneralhome.com

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:45 AM on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at St. Mark Church in Catonsville, MD. Due to Covid restrictions, all attendees are required to wear a face covering, per state regulations.  The Mass will be live-streamed. To watch Cut and paste this link into your browser. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_8dEMqt6jH_z69Eqe0seXA

Interment at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Howard County will be private.

Honey requested that donations be made to St Jude Hospital www.honeyupdike.com

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