Mary Ann Mares Taffaro

Mary Ann Mares Taffaro, age 76, passed away in her home on June 5, 2025, with her husband by her side. Mary Ann, a native of New Orleans, was born March 2, 1949, and resided much of her life in Metairie. She was a graduate of Francis T. Nicholls High School and furthered her education by attending additional classes at Tulane University.
After completing her education, Mary Ann worked as a customer service representative for South Central Bell. In 1971, she married her high school sweetheart Anthony with whom she became the devoted mother to her three children. Mary Ann reentered the workforce as the school secretary at St. Louis King of France School where she worked for twenty-six years. During her time at St. Louis King of France, she touched the lives of many students, parents, and faculty members. Affectionately known to all as "Miss Mary Ann", she was a fixture of the school whether it was running the school office, helping to attend to a student's injury, giving one of her Mickey Mouse stickers to a child, making sure that each child had a prayer card on his or her birthday, or simply providing a kind and loving word to both students and teachers alike. To this day, many of St. Louis's former students, parents, and faculty still remember "Miss Mary Ann" fondly and remember the impact that she had on them.
While at St. Louis, Mary Ann became very involved in church and school life serving two terms as president of the school's Parents' Club. She, along with her husband, spent many years volunteering at the fair in every capacity imaginable including fair booth captain and fair chairperson. She also served St. Louis King of France church parish, where she was a parishioner, as both a lector and a Eucharistic Minister. Also, Mary Ann spent time volunteering at both Jesuit High School and Mount Carmel Academy. In addition to her duties and volunteerism at school and church, Mary Ann further served the Archdiocese of New Orleans by giving of her time to WLAE-TV where she was often found working the boards, the phones, or behind the scenes at its annual tuition auction. Due to her dedication to both her parish and Archdiocese, Mary Ann was honored with the Order of St. Louis IX Award by the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Upon retiring, Mary Ann began her next career as a full-time Grammy and part-time carpool chauffeur to her eight grandchildren who she loved and treasured. To her, each one was a special gift from God, and she loved each one in her own special way. Mary Ann loved nothing more than to spend time with her grandchildren: laughing with them, telling them jokes and stories, playing cards, or being a role model to them showing each one what it means to live a good, Catholic life. She was always there for each grandchild enjoying many birthday parties, graduations, ballet and dance performances, award ceremonies, and rock concerts.
Mary Ann was affectionately known as the "Queen" by her grandchildren and many family friends. She was an avid reader and loved Disney. She enjoyed taking trips with her family to Disney and Orange Beach enjoying each minute shared with her husband, children, and grandchildren. Her favorite movie was Beauty and the Beast, and her favorite song was "Be Our Guest" which she would often sing with her grandchildren. She also loved a good meal and was a regular fixture on Friday nights at Vincent's Italian Cuisine.
To sum up Mary Ann's life, she was not only a woman of God, but a true woman for others. She made what could be an ordinary life, extraordinary.
Mary Ann was preceded in death by her mother and father Frank P. Mares, Sr., and Esther Selhofer Mares. She is survived by her devoted husband of fifty-three years Anthony J. Taffaro, Sr., and her three children Anthony J. Taffaro, Jr., Michael J. Taffaro (Jennifer), and Virginia Taffaro LaHatte (Joey). She is the loving grandmother to and is survived by her eight adoring grandchildren, Anthony, III, Evan, Nicholas, Kaylin, Caroline, Charlotte, Olivia, and Daniel. She also leaves behind one brother Frank P. Mares, Jr.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Greenwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5200 Canal Blvd. on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 8:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, Masses or donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are preferred.