MaryAnn Gates

MaryAnn Petrucce Gates, 77, was reunited with her beloved husband, William "Bill" Earl Gates, on October 2, 2022. She was born on November 15, 1944, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, to Anthony Joseph and Mary Kathryn (Montag) Petrucce. Her family moved to Marion in the early '50s, and she attended St. Paul Elementary School. She graduated from Bennett High School in 1962, where she was a varsity cheerleader. She spent her days swimming and diving at the Meshingomeshia Country Club, where she met the love of her life. One summer day, Bill was leaving the golf course, walked by the pool, and saw her performing a picture-perfect swan dive. They fell in love and married on December 26, 1964, at St. Paul's Catholic Church. MaryAnn graduated from Holy Cross School of Nursing in 1965.

MaryAnn and Bill moved to New York City, where Bill trained for America Can Company and MaryAnn worked as a "Gimbels Girl" in the Manhattan store. MaryAnn and Bill relocated to Minneapolis, where they welcomed their son, Jeffrey Earl, on July 3, 1968. Bill and MaryAnn soon came home to Marion so Bill could take over the Gates Plywood Mart from his family. They were blessed with their beautiful daughter, Jennifer Elaine, on December 12, 1972.

MaryAnn started her nursing career at Bradner Village Nursing Home where she was the Director of Nursing for many years, and she later worked with Colonial Oaks. In her quest to continue and improve her clinical and leadership education, she became certified in gerontological nursing by several national nursing organizations: the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration/Long-Term Care (NADONA/LTC); the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination (AANAC); and the American Nursing Association. She trained her nursing staff to treat their residents with respect and compassion, just as she did.

MaryAnn and Bill loved Indiana University football and basketball. They attended every home football game, where she made the best hot buttered rum on campus, and they threw the best IU tailgates for family and guests. She was a loyal Hoosiers fan, even in bad seasons. She and Bill were IU Alumni Life Member donors. MaryAnn was an alum initiate member of Delta Gamma fraternity.

MaryAnn saw Barbara Streisand perform in "Funny Girl" on Broadway and loved theater ever since. Throughout her life, she and her sisters watched live performances in NYC and locally in Indy. MaryAnn was an Angel Donor at Wabash's Honeywell Center and attended many shows there. She loved to shop, and she was a creative expert gift-wrapper and a talented artisan. She loved dogs, especially her precious Shih Tzus – Olaf, Ollie, and Alfie.

MaryAnn is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Gates; brother, Anthony Joseph, Jr. (Lorna); sisters, Laurie Roselle (John), Elisabeth Petrucce (Bill Hoeper), and Victoria Christ (John); brother-in-law, Ron Miller; sister- and brother-in-law, Nancy and Lyle Becker; and many nieces, nephews, and their children upon whom she doted.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill; son, Jeff; parents, Tony and Mary Petrucce; sister, Kathryn Edith Miller; and in-laws, Earl and Gertrude Gates.

The family will receive visitors from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.

Immediately following the time of visitation, a funeral service to celebrate MaryAnn's life will begin at 1:00 pm. Entombment will follow at Gardens of Memory in Marion.

In lieu of flowers, MaryAnn requested that donations be made to the Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market St., Wabash, IN 46992; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105; or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.

Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.