Mary Ann Urban passed away peacefully at home, in the arms of her family, on February 20, 2017. She was born in Illinois on October 28, 1938 to Chester G. Birch and Loretta Sievert. Mary Ann was raised by her father in the suburbs of Illinois. She was predeceased by a sister, Carol.
While attending the University of Illinois, Mary Ann met Ronald Urban. They fell in love and were married in 1957. Together, they raised a family, settling first in Tennessee, then Alabama. Mary Ann attended the University of Alabama and stayed at home with her children, while Ron worked on the NASA Moon Space Mission.
The family moved to Simsbury Connecticut in 1968, where Mary Ann spent most of her life. She loved this town and especially her woodland home surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fish pond she and Ron built together.
Mary Ann was a vibrant and passionate volunteer in several community organizations. She was a longtime member of the Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association and a member and former president of the Simsbury Women’s Golf Association. Mary Ann was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts and was a member of the Simsbury Light Opera Company for forty one years, serving as a three term president, set designer, publicity, patron’s reception and set building chairperson and also worked on hospitality, the program and sewing costumes. Her husband, Ron and several of her family members, including her granddaughters, happily joined her in the SLOCO family affair.
Mary Ann was retired from the Ensign Bickford Industries, Inc. as secretary to the Blasting Products Division. She was honored by receiving the Simsbury Hometown Hero Award. She enjoyed painting and sewing, especially quilting. She loved watching the array of wildlife that visited the backyard, especially the bear that bathed in her pond. Most of all she loved her family and devoted her life to giving each of us her deepest love and commitment.
Left to love her forever are her beloved husband of almost sixty years Ronald H. Urban of Simsbury, her daughter, Joleen Urban Benedict of Simsbury, her son Jon R. Urban and his wife Melissa Urban of Colorado, her daughter Cortney Sannizzaro and her husband Peter Sannizzaro of Granby, CT, her granddaughters Jessica Urban and Whitney Urban of Colorado, Lauren Sannizzaro and Abigail Sannizzaro of Granby, CT, as well as great grandchildren Madison, Antonio, Amelia, Bailey, Jackson and Alexandria of Colorado, and her special fur friend Oliver from Colorado.
Calling hours will be Sunday, February 26th from 12 Noon until 2 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT with a Celebration of Life Memorial Service immediately following at 2:30 PM at the Maple Tree Café (reception room), 781 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT. Please visit Mary Ann’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.