Mary-Ann Flanagan Valiulis

Mary-Ann Flanagan Valiulis passed away on Saturday, September 27 at her home in Shreveport, Louisiana. She will be dearly missed by her husband of 64 years, John Peter Valiulis, M.D., by her children, grandchildren, and many friends.

Mary-Ann, or Mazie as she was known to her friends, was born in the Bronx, New York City on April 22, 1940. She was the eldest daughter of Richard Flanagan and Pearle Coxe Flanagan, and one of six children. She attended Elizabeth Ann Seton high school in New York, and then Marymount College in New York City and Washington, D.C., where she met her husband, John. They married on June 7, 1961, at the Chapel of Faith, Hope and Charity in Manhattan. She attended graduate school at George Washington University, where she received a Masters in Education, and at Louisiana State University earning a Masters degree in Liberal Arts.

After some years in Madison, Wisconsin, Mazie and John settled in Shreveport. She was a member of The Cathedral of St. John Berchman's, a member of The Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and a supporter of Holy Angels and the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. She was instrumental in establishing Montessori education in Shreveport and was an early supporter of the Suzuki Violin Method both in Madison, Wisconsin and Shreveport. Mazie served on the boards of St. Joseph and St. John Berchman Catholic Cathedral She served on the Shreveport Opera board. Mazie was a member of the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan, and the Shreveport Club.

Mazie was preceded in death by her son Paul Coxe Valiulis, her parents, her stepfather John Canning, her brothers Richard Flanagan and James Flanagan, and her sisters Patricia Flanagan Leahy, and Nancy Flanagan Bowen.

She is survived by her husband, John Peter Valiulis, M.D.; daughter Mary Ann "Mimi" Valiulis and her husband Philip Joseph Keogh; her son John Peter Valiulis, Jr. and his wife Gannon Osteen Valiulis her granddaughters Azelin Mary Ann Valiulis Ellsworth and her husband Spencer Ellsworth, her granddaughter Salem Grace Valiulis, granddaughter Gabrielle Valiulis Springer and her husband Hayden Springer, and granddaughter Evelyn Mae Valiulis; her granddaughter from her son Paul, Tekarra Thomas Valiulis; her daughter Mary Beth Valiulis McGann and husband Kevin Mark McGann, Sr., and grandchildren Kevin Mark McGann, Jr., and John Thomas McGann; and her son Mark Christian Valiulis and his wife Shelly Griffen Valiulis, and her granddaughter Lily Christian Valiulis, and her grandsons Mark Griffen Valiulis, and Charles Christian Valiulis. She is also survived by her sister Kathleen Flanagan Barraclough

Mazie was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. Education was important to her, and she spent her life encouraging her children and grandchildren to find joy in learning.

She loved traveling with her husband, often together with her mother and stepfather, or with her children, or good friends. She loved traveling around the globe, especially to New York City, Italy, Ireland, and Kiawah Island. She sought out Catholic pilgrimage sites such as Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugorje, Knock, the St. James Camino route to Santiago de Compostela, Rome, and Jerusalem. She enjoyed the arts, and attended the Shreveport Symphony, Shreveport Opera, and Metropolitan Opera in New York. She delighted in going to museums around the world. Mazie loved to throw parties, especially hosting her family and friends at Christmas. She enjoyed her monthly book club, and having lunch with her closest friends weekly. She cherished the time she spent with her friends. Mazie loved dogs, sharing her life with poodles of many sizes. When younger, Mazie was a passionate tennis player and had a mean backhand.

Her Catholic faith was at the heart of her life. She attended mass regularly and was a eucharistic minister. One of Mazie's greatest joys was her relationships with the nuns and novitiates of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. She took great delight in taking the novitiates to lunch after mass, and to movies.

On December 1, 2018, Mazie underwent a lung transplant at Duke University in North Carolina. She was one of their oldest patients and lived near seven years after her surgery, continuing to travel and live a full, vibrant life. The family is forever grateful to Dr. Reynolds and the transplant team at Duke University Hospital.

Mazie was infinitely curious, sly, funny, smart, and possessed an enviable joie de vie and will to live a full, vibrant life. Her last words were spoken to her husband who told her how much he had always loved her, and she responded, "Good."

Pall bearers are her sons John Peter and Christian Valiulis, Grandsons Kevin McGann, John McGann, Griffen Valiulis, and Charles Valiulis, and son in laws Philip Keogh and Kevin McGann Sr.

Honorary pall bearers are Simeon Wall, Don Walter, Pat Harrison, Lee Wallace, Charles Regauer and Dan Santelices, Stephen Vekovius, Dieter Calle, Carl Heinrich Schulte zur Hausen, and Dr. Wayne Falcone.

The family wants to thank everyone who has helped care for Mazie these last few years: the doctors and nurses at Christus Schumpert Hospital and Louisiana State University Hospital, Dr. Bobby Walter, Dr. Neelima Chintapalli, Dr. Laura Fite, Marcella Barraca, and especially her son-in-law Dr. John McGann. The family also wants to thank the Christus Schumpert Hospice team, Monica Hill, and Tan Martin who supported her with such great compassion at the end.

Visitation will be on Thursday, October 2, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00, with a full Rosary at 6:00 p.m. at. Osborn Funeral Home, 3631 Southern Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71104.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John Berchman, on Friday, October 3, 2025, 939 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA. The graveside service will be at Forest Park Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. 3700 St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport, LA.