Mary A. Melvin

Mary Ann Melvin transitioned to her eternal life on Friday, November 13, 2020 at her home in La Crosse. She was born December 3, 1946 to Thomas M. and Irene (Kearney) Melvin joining her older brother Tom in the family unit. Unfortunately, their mother passed away when Mary Ann was only two and Tom was four. Mary Ann and her brother were raised by their father and two special aunts. Rosemary and Evelyn Melvin.

Mary Ann was proud of the blue and red ribbons she won on her sewing projects she entered at the Wisconsin State Fair in Milwaukee. Other hobbies she enjoyed as she was growing up were trail bicycling, needle point and gardening. Mary Ann was an assistant organist at St. James Catholic Church near her home in Rising Sun WI. She graduated from Seneca High School in 1965.

After high school Mary Ann moved to La Crosse where she studied Liberal Arts at Viterbo University. That was followed by her attendance at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse for two years working on her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. Mary Ann was happy with her employment at Hillview for 22 years until she retired from that position.

Although Mary Ann never married and had children of her own, she took great joy in the little children that came into her life starting with her niece JoEllen Melvin and followed by nephews Jeremy Melvin and Ryan Melvin. She particularly enjoyed the many great nieces and nephews. After every holiday there was a rush to get to the dinner dishes cleared, washed, and put away in preparation for the many Spite and Malice card games. Mary Ann was an ace at these rousing games and no one ever forgot these games.

She loved to sing and was a member of the adult and funeral choirs at Blessed Sacrament Church. Dear to her heart was time spent with the Blessed Sacrament Women’s Club and the Catholic Daughters. Once a week she would help make sandwiches and snacks for the homeless through Catholic Charities. Mary Ann was a kind and loving women.

Later in life Mary Ann met a very special man, Gene Buchel, who she had a long term relationship with until he passed away in 2016. Through Gene, Mary Ann became a domestic as well as a world traveler. They traveled to Washington DC and Branson, Missouri. Most exciting was their trip on the Concord to Europe. While in Europe they spent time in England and Ireland before jetting off to Rome, Italy. Mary Ann was devastated when Gene passed and seemed lost without him.

Preceding Mary Ann in death were her parents Thomas M. And Irene Melvin, two special aunts, Rosemary and Evelyn Melvin, brother Thomas F. Melvin, infant nephew Jeremy Melvin, sister-in-law Carol Damman and the special man in her life, Gene Buchel.

She is survived by her niece, JoEllen Egge and nephew, Ryan Melvin, sisters-in-law, LaDonna Curran and Connie Melvin. She is further survived by great nephews, Zachary Zitzner, Tyler Zitzner and great niece Brittney Wirtz and great-great nephews, Peyton Zitzner, Bronson Zitzner and great-great nieces, Abigail Wirtz, Alyssa Wirtz and Brynlee Zitzner.

Memorials can be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church or Catholic Charities.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, November 19, 2020 in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. S., La Crosse, Wis. Rev. Peter Raj and Msgr. Michael Gorman will officiate with burial to be held in St. James Catholic Church Cemetery, in Rising Sun, Wis. A Rosary will be held at 10:30 AM at Church before Mass on Thursday.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, responsible social distancing will be required.