She married Phillip Fellner on October 10, 1953, and was married for 15 years until his early and untimely death. Mary Ann dedicated her life to raising her five children (aged 3-14 years at the time), ensuring all of them received a Catholic education all the way through high school. She was a loving mother and grandmother and will be missed dearly.
Guided by her strong faith, Mary Ann was active throughout her lifetime with Christian Mothers, Daughters of Isabella, Catholic Women’s Club, Milwaukee Archdiocese Council of Catholic Women, and gave generously through volunteerism and monetary support to numerous charities for those less fortunate. She was a longtime member of both St. Sebastian and St. Rita Catholic Churches.
A wonderful musician, Mary Ann played in the first violin section with the Racine Symphony Orchestra from 1953-1970. Raising her children at the family home on Northwestern Avenue until 1988, she was always busy with her family, and sisters-in-law Margaret, Marion and Catherine. Known for her driving skills, she volunteered her services to family and friends as they found it harder to get around. She looked forward to her Tuesday card games with childhood friend Ruth Krumberger; monthly lunches with her SCHS Class of 1944 Girls Alumni group; and the foreign film series at UW-Parkside.
In her earlier years, she was employed by Twin Disc, Dremel Tools, Johnson Wax, and the Police Chief and Sherriff’s Bureau in Milwaukee.
Mary Ann is survived by her children, Phillip, Beth Diem (Mike), Carol Fox, Andrew (Lisa Laitinen) and Therese (Paul Fiegel); grandchildren, Andrea and Kimberly Fox, Mick (Alyssa Diamond) and Haley Diem, James Fellner, and Erik, Joseph, and Benjamin Fiegel; cousin Anna May (Henry) Look; brother-in-law and sister-in law, John and Helen Fellner; cousin Hazel Keller; and many loving nieces and nephews from the Vida, Fellner and Stapleman families.
Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip; daughter, Nancy; parents, Alexander and May Vida; brothers, Robert (AnnaMae) and James (Margery) Vida; sisters-in-law, Marion Fellner, Margaret Fellner and Catherine Stapleman; and brother-in-law, Roy Stapleman.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 8, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Rita’s Church, 4339 Douglas Ave., Racine, WI. Rev. Kevin C. Mullins, O.S.A. will be officiating. Interment will immediately follow at St. Louis Cemetery, 13207 County Road G, Caledonia, WI. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 7, 2014, at Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home and at the church from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 10:30 a..m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Rita’s Christian Mothers, Racine Catholic Women’s Club, Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (MACCW), or the Daughters of Isabella.
Mary Ann’s family wishes to thank Dr. Howard Short for his ongoing care and concern for their mother.
Maresh-Meredith and Acklam Funeral Home
803 Main St., Racine, WI (262) 634-7888
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