Mary O'Brien

On January 1st, 2022, Mary Ann O’Brien, most recently of Waunakee, WI, and longtime resident of Dubuque, IA, passed peacefully in her sleep after living for many years with dementia.

Mary Ann was born Mary Ann Beecher on March 12, 1933, to her parents Mary and Michael Beecher.  Having grown up in Mason City, IA, Mary Ann graduated from the Mercy School of Nursing in Dubuque, IA, as a Registered Nurse. She eventually worked as a nurse at Luther Manor Nursing Home in Dubuque for more than 20 years, including time as the Director of Nurses.

While attending Mercy School of Nursing, she met the love of her life and future husband, Ralph O’Brien. She and Ralph were married on September 8, 1956. Together they raised seven children and had a very full life together until Ralph’s passing on September 3, 2008.

Mary Ann is survived by her children and their spouses: Jerry and his wife Beth (Mutchler), Julie, Jim, Jill and her husband John Peck, Matt and his wife Kim (Rausch), Bob, Jane and her husband Jeff Skoug. She is further survived by her grandchildren, Caitlin and her husband Ben Konecny, Corey and his partner MacKenzie Cross, Emily and her partner Kat Arenella, Colin and his wife Bianca, Kylie and her husband Rob Landis, Jacob, Meghan, Ryan, and Joe; her great-grandchild, Lincoln O’Brien; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Maurna O’Brien, Mike (Joyce) O’Brien, Joe O’Brien, Terry O’Brien, Kathleen (Rex) Gogerty, Lois Schlegel, and Deb (Bob) Green.

She is preceded in death by her parents, father and mother-in-law, loving husband, six brothers-in-law (Earl, George, Pat and Steve O’Brien, Irwin McDermott and Rich Schlegel), five sisters-in-law (Elaine, Ann, Delores, and Monie O’Brien and Joannel McDermott), and two nephews (Phil McDermott and Tim O'Brien).

All her children and extended family have been graced by her constant demonstrations of unconditional love, her laughter, and her perpetually positive outlook on life.  Her commitment to her husband, children, and extended family will continue to serve as an example of a life well lived.

We truly wish we could have gathered with all our loved family and friends. A private funeral service was held due to COVID at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Burial followed the funeral mass on the grounds of St. John the Baptist Church. The mass can be viewed on the St. John's YouTube page starting Saturday, January 8, 2022.

We hope you will be able to join us virtually. Rest assured we will be grateful for your virtual presence and your prayers.

The family would like to thank Waunakee Manor, Homestead Living of Waunakee, and Agrace Hospice for their loving care of our mother in her last years of life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

Alzheimer’s Research at www.act.alz.org

Neurofibromatosis Research at www.ctf.org

Winn-Cress Funeral Home

5785 Hwy Q

Waunakee, WI