Mary Ann Tikalsky

Mary Ann Tikalsky, age 94, passed away and went to her place of peace on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. She was born at home by a midwife in Green Bay to Stephen and Theresa Tikalsky on April 10, 1929.

Mary Ann began her schooling in a two-room schoolhouse and then attended Ss. Peter and Paul elementary school. As a teen, she was an active member of the Student Council at East High and CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) at Ss. Peter and Paul. Mary Ann graduated from Green Bay East High School in 1947.

Following high school Mary Ann worked at an insurance agency. She attended a summer course at The Grail, an international women's organization committed to developing leadership skills of young women, in Loveland, OH. This led to a decision to become a student at the Grail the following year; her introduction to the world!

Mary Ann worked at the Grail Centers in Loveland, as well as Brooklyn, NY, and Detroit, MI. It was there Mary Ann met and would enjoy dinners and conversations with Dorothy Day, an American journalist who as an activist worked for such social causes as pacifism and women's suffrage through the prism of the Catholic Church. Mary Ann later worked in Flushing, NY while finishing her BA at Queens College, NY. She also studied a summer in Puerto Rico, a year at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and worked for the Extension Department in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Upon returning to the United States, she worked with The Grail Overseas Institute in Brooklyn, NY. It was then she decided to go on for further studies in Social Work, receiving a National Mental Health Grant to Fordham University, School of Social Service and received her Masters in Social Work in 1967.
Mary Ann returned to the Midwest as a social worker and helped to establish a mental health center in Batavia, OH. Following this she moved to Chicago and worked in the mental health field for 25 years, always developing outpatient programs with her staff.

She returned to Green Bay in 1990 to be with her mother through her last years. In Green Bay, Mary Ann worked as a social worker with St. Vincent Home Health until 1996. After retiring at the age of 67, she tutored children in the Green Bay school system, worked with the League of Women Voters, and was a long-time member of JOSHUA - an interfaith social-justice organization that worked to empower and equip people to work together on issues of justice and community building. She was grateful for the Green Bay area's development of frequent interfaith services and participated joyfully.
Mary Ann enjoyed traveling, visiting Grail members and centers in many parts of the world including Germany, The Netherlands, France, Scotland, Egypt, and South Africa.

Her love of flower and vegetable gardening, as well as bird watching as a child continued through adulthood when she participated in a Chicago community garden and urban birdwatching group. She was an avid bicyclist in Chicago and Green Bay. She also enjoyed cross-country skiing and yoga. Mary Ann enjoyed music, especially jazz, folk and classical. She was a long-time member of the Brown County Civic Music Association. She sincerely appreciated the many orchestra, choral and music groups whose concerts she regularly attended.

She was preceded in death by both her parents, Stephen and Theresa, her brother Donald and sister-in-law Betty Lou, her sister Anne and brother-in-law Darwin.

She is survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins who she held close to her heart and soul. She was always interested in what they were doing and how their lives were progressing.

Mary Ann always expressed gratitude for her nephew David Destache, his wife Shirley and their sons Colin, Cody and Connor who included her in their family. A special thank you to Shirley for being very supportive during Mary Ann's many medical needs.

Dave and Shirley would like to extend heartfelt thanks to our cousin Sue Naniot who brought so much joy and calm to Mary Ann as a friend and confidant both in her daily life and spiritual strength.

Funeral services will be held at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, on Friday, January 12 at 11:00 am, with visitation before the service from 9:45 to 11. In lieu of flowers, memorials directed to The Grail - Loveland, OH, the Brown County Civic Music Association, or The Literacy Council of Green Bay in Mary Ann's name are appreciated.

The family would like to thank the many staff members at Tender Hearts Assisted Living for their caring and dedication to Mary Ann's care these past 5 years. Also, a thank you to the staff of Heartland Hospice Care who helped to make her last days cared for and comfortable.

Mary's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click here to view the service.

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