Joel Karnick
.
Mary Ann Gilray, 93, of Park Falls, WI passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Mary Ann was born August 23, 1930 in Antigo, WI, the daughter of late Joseph and Evelyn (Kozarek) Hubatch.
Mary Ann attended Maple Grove (one room) Grade School and Mattoon High school. She graduated with a teaching degree in 1950 from Langlade County Normal School. On June 6, 1953 she married her college sweetheart, Jim Gilray, at Saint Joseph Church in Phlox, WI. Mary Ann taught in Marinette for one year then started her family – a career that she loved. After raising her family, she went back to another career that she loved and taught Elementary School in Gurnee, IL. She taught there for 24 years. During this time she attended evening school and received her Bachelor of Arts from Carthage College in 1971 and her Master’s in Education from Northeastern University in Chicago in 1985. She then helped to start the Gifted Program for the Gurnee School District.
She is survived by four children; Suzanne (Ken) Jarvis, Kathleen (John) Hamel, Patricia (Kevin) Davenport and Joe (Barb) Gilray; two sisters, Dorothy (Willie) Stegal and Patricia Denfeld; one brother, James Hubatch: twelve grandchildren, James, Sean, Andrew, Robert, Christina, Michael, Diana, Thomas, Jillian, Annika, Emily and Claire; and 19 great grandchildren, Ethan, Brianna, Jacob, Hailey, Wyatt, Season, Shane, Amaris, Rain, Liam, Nolan, Declan, Truly, Travis, Zackary, Leo, Geneva, George and baby boy Santella.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jim; and brother Tom Hubatch.
Mary Ann moved to Park Falls in 2017 and quickly grew to love the town and its folks. She was an active member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Park Falls serving on the Evangelization team and as a member of the Adoration team, the Prayer Group, and the Conference of Catholic Women. She volunteered at the Food Pantry, attended book discussion at the library, visited nursing home patients as a Gray Lady, and worked at the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop twice a week (a ‘job’ that she treasured). She spent her leisure hours gardening, taking daily walks, reading, baking, listening to good music and cheering on the Green Bay Packers. She loved hosting family visits to the Northwoods and making each and every visitor do something fun and unique in our area… Copper Falls, Great Adventures, Timms Hill, Winter Greenhouse, etc. She will truly be missed.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am Saturday, May 18, 2024 at St. Anthony’s Church in Park Falls. A visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 am until the hour of the service.
Burial will be held at Ascension Catholic Cemetery in Libertyville, IL in the last week of July and a Celebration of Life will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Mary Ann’s family would like to thank the Compassus Hospice team of Arbor Vita, especially Kitty and Jill, who took such excellent care of her at home.
Birch Street Funeral Service is assisting the family.
