Ann Marie Mariani

Ann Marie Gilgallon Mariani, 75, of Scranton, formerly of Dunmore, died Wednesday at Geisinger CMC. Her husband of 44 years is Michael Mariani. Born in Dunmore, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Florence Preston Gilgallon.

A graduate of St. Mary's of Mount Carmel School in Dunmore, Ann Marie was recognized as a gifted pianist at a young age. She studied dance at the Sutton Dance Studio and was a member of the Scranton Ballet Guild. A 1961 graduate of Marywood Seminary, where she played violin for the school orchestra, Ann Marie went on to earn her bachelor's degree in 1965 from Marywood College with a major in piano and a minor in voice. She went on to study at NYU and later earned a Master of Arts in Music Education from Marywood University. She also served as an organist for Holy Family Church in Scranton, All Saints Church in Dunmore, and St. Mary's of Mt. Carmel Church in Dunmore.

After graduating she spent her life spreading the love of music. She taught vocal music in the Warwick Valley Central School System in New York, where she also participated in the Women's Chorale, before returning to the area as Choral Director of South Scranton Junior High School and later teaching strings and vocal music at various locations within the Scranton School District, but primarily at Prescott and Audubon schools. She retired in 2003 after 36 years as a public school music teacher. She later accompanied the AARP Chorus at various nursing homes, and was a member of the Abington Senior Citizens Center, Scranton Federation of Teachers Retiree Chapter, Marywood's Institute for Lifelong Learning, Scranton Women Teachers Retiree Chapter, the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees. She also served on the board of the Marywood Seminary Alumnae Association and the committee for the Marywood College Alumna Association for the 50th anniversary of the class of 1965 and the centennial of the college. Mary Ann also loved to travel, having visited Alaska, Canada, Italy and much if the US, and she loved her bridge group, her knitting group, and Mah Jong group.

In addition to her husband she is also survived by two daughters: Melissa Campbell and husband Scott, Chandler, Ariz., and Elizabeth Zabrowski and husband Jason, Clifford; a son, Michael J. Mariani, Jr., Old Forge; and four grandchildren: Amelia and Violet Campbell and Evan and Grace Zabrowski.

The funeral will be Saturday with Mass of Christian Burial at Nativity of Our Lord Church at St. John Neumann Parish, 633 Orchard Street, followed by entombment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Friends and family may call Friday from 4-7 p.m. at Neil W. Regan Funeral Home, Inc., 1900 Pittston Ave., Scranton PA 18505.

To send online condolences visit the funeral home website.