Thursday, February 28, 2002

Obituary: MaryAnne (Dooley) Pressentin - Class of 1942

MONONA [Wisconsin] - MaryAnne Pressentin, affectionately known by many as "Mrs. Prez" or "Grandma Prez," died on Friday, Feb. 22, 2002, in Pompano Beach, Fla. She was born on July 27, 1924, in Chicago, Ill., to Francis Dowdle and Marvel (Ellickson) Dowdle Dooley. She moved to Madison as a child and graduated from Madison Central High School in 1942. She married Donald C. Pressentin on Aug. 25, 1945, in Madison at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. MaryAnne was a passionate lady who was dearly loved by everyone who met her. She was known for her engaging smile and the uncanny ability to make everyone she met feel good. She was kind, fun, gentle, and always found good in everyone. Her home was always open to her family and friends and was always a gathering place. She was an avid sports enthusiast always at her grandkid's activities, attending every Badgers home football game, watching all the Packers games, and never missing a professional golf match. In her cache of wonderful memories were the Rose Bowl, the Masters Golf Tournament, and the Ryder Cup. She was a player, always saying, "Yes, let's go!" She loved the great outdoors. She had a passion for the Northwoods of Wisconsin, particularly her beloved Presque Isle Lake where she spent many years. MaryAnne could tell you about the habits of the wildlife, the flowers and plants and birds, and she shared that openly with everyone. She loved her home in Florida, and all the wonderful friends she had there, and all the parties and fun gatherings that were a daily event. She was a sun bunny, permanently tanned! She loved to dance, had a passion for arts, loved to read and her home was always filled with lots of books, especially the big dictionaries that always took Dad and she to the completion of their crossword puzzles. Her most fervent passion was her family. Her husband, "Duck," was her soulmate and love of her life, forever in her heart. Her nine kids to whom she gave unwavering love and acceptance, their spouses, and her 20 grandkids who she adored and celebrated every waking moment ... she made each feel they were the apple of her eye. Maryanne loved babies, children, people, animals, birds, travel, parties, rainbows, music, blue skies, rainy days, sunshine, books, flowers, parades, jokes, Christmas, holidays, and the USA She was a kind, gentle, fun loving, and generous woman who was always aware of the tiny miracles in life; a true testimony to her incredible spirit! She will be missed with heavy hearts but our lives will be filled with the memories of the passionate love Mom had for everyone and everything in her life. She is survived by her children, Cassie and son, Reid, Brad (Shari) and children, Brent, Bryce, and Bridget, Randy (Janie) and children, Christopher, Adam, Haley, and Kim, Becky (Bruce) Mueller and children, Shelby and Peyton, Gary (Michelle) and son, Jeffy, Joe (Kim) and children, Emily, Lauren, and Kevin, and Carrie (John) Murphy and children, Keenan, Bailey, Corban, and Cavanagh; her son-in-law, Terry Fisher and children, Brian and Amber; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Charlotte O'Brien; and a nephew, Tim (Mary Sue) Pressentin. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald C. Pressentin; and her children, Suzi Pressentin Fisher, and Jeffrey Pressentin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at ST. MARIA GORETTI CHURCH, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2002, with a luncheon following. A private family burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Friends may call at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002. A memorial fund will be established in her name. Gunderson East Funeral Home 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on February 28, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

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