Mary Ann Dunne

To everyone who loved and was lucky to know Mary Ann Dunne, née Wilhem, it is with great sadness to say Mary Ann passed away at her home the morning of July 14, 2021. She was 80 years old. Mary Ann stood up to a rare disease called Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML). She was quiet about her fight during the past two years, but she was always grateful for her friends, near and far, who supported her. She was thankful to say, “the troops are coming home,” when her beloved children, Ed and Karen, arrived from Colorado to be with her. Mary Ann was proud of her children, often bragging about them to anyone who would listen. She loved her parents and was their dedicated caregiver during their final years. She cherished her long-term bonds with family and friends. Mary Ann was born in Detroit, Michigan, on January 6, 1941, to the late George and Theresa (née Keller) Wilhelm. As part of the Silent Generation, Mary Ann respected authority and rules. She didn’t like to draw attention to herself but got things done behind the scenes. Anyone who knew Mary Ann, knew she paid attention to details. Even her outfits were perfectly accessorized, from matching shoes to earrings. She was a consummate lady of her generation; polite and dignified. Following the way of her own mother, she “would never say sh#t even if her mouth was full of it.” Mary Ann was a forgiving and gentle soul. She prayed daily for those she loved. Her daily prayer list also included those who she felt hurt by. She prayed for them to be safe and well. Mary Ann was a master gardener who loved to “play in the dirt.” She always made sure there was food in the bird feeders. Her garden was a small oasis in her corner of the world, anchored by a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi. Mary Ann had a natural talent for music. She was an active member of the church choir for almost 30 years. She had a flair for making even the shyest person dance when playing Polkas on her accordion. Mary Ann had a penchant for order and study, which started early in her life as the Valedictorian of her high school graduating class. She had a long career as a Medical Transcriptionist and didn’t retire until she was 75 years old. She was fond of collecting figurines, special mementos, and heart-warming quotes. In her kitchen, you could read, “A friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart,” or “Money can’t buy happiness, that’s what shopping is for.” Mary Ann also had a unique collection of spoons that began while living in France in the early 70s. The spoons were from around the world; Grand Cayman, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Fiji, Scotland, New Zealand–just to name a few. Some were mementos from her travels and others were gifts from her traveling children. Mary Ann was a strong, independent woman rooted in her connection to God, her faith, and her church community. She was charitable by default and looked for ways to be of service to those who were suffering. In more recent years, she used her lifelong sewing skills to create prayer blankets for those in need and she volunteered at the St Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Kennesaw even while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Mary Ann’s thoughtfulness was unwavering. She never missed a day to mark a special occasion with a card or a phone call. She checked on each member of the family to see how they were doing and would report it to everyone else in the family. Thank you to everyone for your prayers. Mary Ann will be loved, remembered, and missed forever. In lieu of flowers, please spend time with and cherish those you love. If you would like to make a donation in Mary Ann’s name, send contributions to The Lingap Children's Foundation (a 501(c)(3) organization) P.O. Box 1553 Jackson, MI 49204.

Mary Ann Dunne

January 6, 1941 - July 14, 2021