Mary Ann Badar, 86 yrs old
12/14/1934 to 3/19/21
Boulder, CO
Mary Ann (Shanks) Badar, formerly of Flint, MI, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on Friday, March 19th, 2021, in her apartment home at Frasier Meadows Assisted Living in Boulder, CO.
Mary Ann was born on December 14th, 1934, in Colorado Springs, CO, to James F. Shanks and Helen G. (Mather) Shanks. When she was 12 years old, she moved to Flint with her parents and older sister, Joan, and younger brother, Jimmy.
She graduated from Flint Northern H.S. in 1952 and attended Flint Junior College while working at Neisner’s Five and Dime. She married Norbert S. Badar in 1953 and they had seven children. They celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2013 before Norbert’s passing in 2014.
Community service was of great importance to Mary Ann. She worked for and retired from the City of Flint in the Community Development department and then the Election and Licensing Division as a Supervisor in the City Clerk’s office. Before working full time for the City of Flint, she worked in community outreach teaching adult learners to read and write. She also was integral to her husband’s successful career as a track and cross country coach at Flint Northern High School. Mary Ann was a board member of the Friends of the Flint Public Library and was responsible for inviting and hosting famous authors and guest speakers.
She had a passion for the written and spoken word and passed this down to her children and grandchildren. She was a great storyteller and loved to recount tales from her youth. Mary Ann also placed immense value in learning and knowledge. A voracious reader her entire life, she often and easily cited classic literature and possessed an erudite understanding beyond her formal education.
Mary Ann lived a life of giving generously to others. She always found the beauty or subtle humor in the everyday and helped those around her see the world that way too. Possibly her greatest gift to all who knew her was her true and present interest in each of our lives. She focused conversations not on herself but on all those around her—a great listener, a true friend.
Above all else, Mary Ann devoted her life to her family. She made the world as loving and gentle as possible for her children and grandchildren. They meant the world to her and she to them. She was affectionately called "DeBe" by her grandchildren and they all felt they were her favorite. Family traditions were also deeply important to her and she made a point to cherish and pass along things like family history, recipes, and keepsakes.
Surviving are children, Michael J. Badar of Louisville, Colorado. Anne (Mitch) Aiello of San Francisco, California. Margaret (Ned) Riedel of Boulder, Colorado. Grandchildren Mary Elizabeth and Catherine Aiello. Ian, Sean, Annie, and Martha Riedel. Sister Joan Bohn of Centerville, Utah. Sister-in-law Betty Shanks of Spokane, WA. Cousin Laura Shanks (Kirk) Kolberg of Muskegon, MI. And also many nieces, nephews, cousins, dear lifelong friends as well as new friends she met living back in Colorado.
Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her children, Stephen (1954-1961), Christopher (1955-1962), Philip (1957-1963) and Cynthia (1958-1964); and her husband Norbert (1924-2014).
Both Mary Ann and Norb cared deeply about the Flint community. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Luke Catholic Church N.E.W. Life Center, 3115 Lawndale, Flint, MI 48504 newlifecenter.com or Carriage Town Ministries, 605 Garland St, Flint MI 48503 carriagetown.org.
There will be a private service and committal at New Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Flint, MI, Father Tom Firestone officiating. Tributes may be shared at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com.
The family would like to thank the wonderful and loving caregivers, staff, and friends at Frasier Meadows Assisted Living. Also the caring teams at both Trail Winds Hospice and Dignity Care.
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well."
~Lady Julian of Norwich
"To be continued…"
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