Mary Ann Defnet

Mary Ann Defnet, age 85, died Tuesday, January 26, at Woodside Nursing Home. The daughter of Henry J. and Odile (Beno) Lurquin, she was born December 30, 1930 in Green Bay. She attended St. Patrick's and Annunciation Grade Schools and graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in 1948. Before marriage, Mary Ann was a secretary-stenographer at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation's Sales and Advertising Department. She married John J. Defnet on August 29, 1953, at Annunciation Catholic Church. Five children were born to them.

Mary Ann was a typist and library volunteer at her children's schools, newsletter editor and historian for the Beno Family Organization, a founding member of the Bay Area Genealogical Society, past Historian of the SJA Alumnae Association, Vice-President and Historian of the Peninsula Belgian-American Club, a member of the Brown County Historical Society, the Belgian Researchers, the Wallonie-Wisconsin Society, the Center for Belgian Culture, and was a 35 year member of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society. Mary Ann was listed in the Who's Who in Genealogy, and was the 2011 recipient of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society's Hall of Fame Award.

Her 40 years of genealogical experience was primarily with Belgian research, aiding many people in finding their roots. She made seven trips to Belgium to meet relatives and friends to do research. She was named an Honorary Citizen of Namur, Belgium; and was an honorary member of the WWII Belgian veterans of Valenciennes, France. She co-authored two family genealogies and was the co-author and researcher for several books on Belgian immigration. In the field of writing, she was a columnist for "Belgian Laces", co-editor of "Historical Hi-Lites" for St. John the Evangelist Parish's 150th Anniversary. Several other historical articles were published in local periodicals.

Mary Ann is survived by sons Paul (Julie) Defnet, Andy, and Bob Defnet of Green Bay; daughter Janet (Greg Kent) Defnet of Muskego; daughter-in-law Jennifer Defnet, Pottstown, PA; 5 grandchildren: Dr. Ann Defnet, Mary (Andy) Spaeth, Emily, Peter and Amy Defnet; a brother Bob (Vi) Lurquin, Sun Prairie, WI; sisters-in-law Sally Lurquin and Bernice Bittner; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband John, son Tim, parents, brothers John and Jim Lurquin, sisters Marge Garl and Bernice Vincent, two brothers-in-law, a sister-in-law, and members of her husband's family.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 PM on Thursday, January 28 at Newcomer Funeral Home, (340 S. Monroe Ave.) Parish Wake Service 7:30 PM at the funeral home. Visitation will continue after 9:00 AM Friday, January 29 at St. Willebrord Catholic Church until the time of service. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM Friday at the church with Father Andy Cribben, O.Praem. officiating.

The Defnet family is very grateful for the loving care provided to Mary Ann by Dr. Matthew Ryan, Dr. Paul Schmitz and the staffs at Green Bay Oncology, Woodside Nursing Home, Unity Hospice and the Ninth Floor at St. Vincent Hospital. But most of all to their dear brother Andy who cared for mom for 2 1/2 years in his home.