Mary Ann Fellner

Mary Ann (nee Vida) Fellner, 88, of Racine, Wisconsin, passed away on September 4, 2014 at her residence.

Mary Ann was born in Racine on January 31, 1926 to Alexander and May (nee Bauernfeind) Vida. She graduated from Holy Name Grade School and Saint Catherine’s High School. 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 5 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 Ave until 1988, she was always busy with her family, and sister-in-laws 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 Monday, September 8, 2014, 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 1:00 until 3:00 pm 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. Condolences to the Fellner Family may be left on Mary Ann’s online memorial website at www.meredithfuneralhome.com