Mary Ann Bach

Mary Ann (nee Paul) Bach, 81, died on Saturday, May 28, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona, having been on hospice care for several weeks suffering from complications following brain tumor surgery in March 2015. She was born November 17, 1934 in Lorain, Ohio to the late Frank (1899-1971) and Justina (nee Cerar) Paul (1901-1978). Mary Ann was a 1953 graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Lorain having attended Ss. Cyril and Methodius Grade school. She worked for a beverage distributor in Lorain as well as for Bendix Westinghouse and The May Company in Cleveland. While in Lorain, both were active members of St. Anthony Catholic Church serving in a variety parish leadership positions. Mary Ann was a lay member of the Third Order Secular Franciscans. After many years living at 1528 Ohio Avenue, the Bach family moved to Valley City, Ohio to raise their family in the country. Mary Ann enjoyed gardening and the avid planting of trees around the property. Mary Ann was proud of her Slovenian heritage and loved polka music, baking, antiquing, garage sales and collecting memorabilia for her large family. She enjoyed her longtime girlfriends Tina, Evelyn, Becky, Loraine, +Mary, and family from Lorain whether at a restaurant, bingo, bus-trip gambling excursions, or on pilgrimages to Catholic Shrines. She loved gathering with her children and bursting into infectious fits of laughter as her children told family stories or teased her about her “Mary Ann-isms.” We have fond memories of family camping vacations nearby and across the country. Mary Ann and Ray eventually moved to Phoenix in 2006 to enjoy the warmer climate. In their later years, Mary Ann and Ray were able to travel with their children to Slovenia to meet her parents’ long lost relatives from the Paul, Cerar, Bergant, Perusek, Virant, Gradisek and Justin families. These were original Slovenian settlers to Lorain, Ohio who came to find work in the booming steel industry of the early 1900s. Mary Ann and Ray recently celebrated 60 years of marriage after which Mary Ann said she was ready for heaven. She is survived by her husband, Raymond, and 7 children: Paul Bach and Joseph Tye of Scottsdale, AZ; Ken and Cindy (Hockenberry) and family of Stevensville, MD; Tony and Regina (Marberry) of Phoenix, AZ; Daniel and Renee (Kleppe) of Chapin, SC; Allen and Mary (Mahan) and family of Wadsworth, OH; Chris and Rose (Kneen) of Willoughby Hills, OH; Anne and Jeff Starling and family of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren Nicole (James Middleton), Michelle, Emily, Michael, Sarah, Ana, Luke and Nina; and 2 great-grandchildren Ava and Ella. Mary Ann’s living siblings include Bill (Helen) Paul, and Tina (+Jim) Leonard, all of Amherst, OH. Her brother and sister-in-law Laddie and Merlyn Paul are recently deceased in Utah. Mary Ann also leaves behind her beloved cats, Rosie and Snowflake. Friends and family will gather to celebrate Mary Ann’s life at a Memorial Mass with Fr. Frank Bartel at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Phoenix, AZ (6180 W. Utopia Rd., Glendale, AZ 85308) on Saturday, June 18 at 10:30. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Phoenix. A Celebration of Life party will take place immediately following the service at the home of Anne & Jeff Starling (35417 N. 34th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85086). Donations can be made in care of “The Emblem Foundation” (supporting hospice patients and families in need of financial support), 88 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, AZ 85225. Final arrangements were made through Legacy.com. We thank the volunteers and staff from hospice who cared for Mary Ann. † We’ll miss you dearly but we'll keep your spirit alive in our lives through laughter, love, food and good works.

Mary Ann Bach

November 17, 1934 - May 28, 2016