Mary Ann Rose Healey

Mary Ann Rose Healey, 79, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, was called home in her kitchen, in the very place God called her mother, Anna (Samela) Ferrese, 41 years prior. She was the daughter of Anna and Rosar J. Ferrese, Dunmore, Pennsylvania. In 1958, she attended a 7th grade dance with a blue-eyed drummer, Gerard "Jerry" Patrick Healey, who became the steady beat of her heart for the next 67 years, until it stopped by his side.
She is a graduate of the legendary Dunmore High School Class of 1963, and was looking forward, with great anticipation, to joining Jerry, and the remaining members of their class and friends, to celebrate their collective 80th birthday/ 63rd class reunion on October 18, 2025; a party she was helping to plan with her closest confidant and friend, Larry Nicholais.
Mary Ann was a devout Catholic woman, introduced to faith by her father's brother, Reverend Joseph Ferrese, former pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Carbondale, Pennsylvania, where he helped to found the parochial school of that parish, staffed by the order of sisters, Religious Teachers Filippini; his proudest accomplishment in his life of service to God.
Mary Ann was a woman steeped in the traditions of her faith and Italian heritage. She served as a Eucharistic Minister at her parish, Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Church, Dunmore, where her husband held her hand throughout each mass, while he served as lector, reading the word of God to their community of faith. She was a faithful member of the Scranton chapter of Unico National, and loved serving as Chairman of the bun slicing team, laboring to hand cut thousands of National Bakery hard rolls, to be served to her community at La Festa Italiana, raising funds for the passion projects of this service organization known for its mantra of "Service Above Self," which was her own personal mantra.
Mary Ann served God in many capacities through life. In her early years, she worked at her father's restaurant on Courthouse Square in Scranton. The Chuck Wagon, presided over the corners of Linden Street and Adams Avenue, next to the Leonard Theater, where now stands Sheeley's Drug Store. There, they served local politicians, business persons, and other notable Scranton characters. She began serving children with special needs, working for her long-time friend, Thomas "Chubb" Moran, riding school busses with children to Saint Joseph's Center in the 1980's.
Mary Ann was actively serving Moranco Transportation, and safely returned the children who affectionately called her "Gram" home from school, about an hour preceding her death. She loved each child she transported daily, to and from school, as if they were her own grandchildren. They were the light of her life, each day. Notably, she also worked as a retail merchandiser for nearly 60 years, servicing brands such as No Nonsense Hosiery, Kate Spade, and Vintage Weatherproof, in stores throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Her territory extended to the New York border and deep into the Pocono Mountains.
Mary Ann's greatest accomplishment was her family. She married her beloved jitterbug partner, Jerry, on April 22, 1967. Together, they conceived five lives, and raised their three children in the home of their dreams for fifty years, where she passed into eternal life. She is survived by Jerry, her children, Gina Marie and partner, Rick Harris, Michael Joseph, and partner Leah Higgins, and Jennifer Ann and partner, Todd Kopec. In addition to her service animal and "Grandogger," Basil, she is survived by a fur family, including a feral orange cat, Mavis Lee Jones, grandkitties, Luigi and Diavolo, Dexter and Delilah.
Mary Ann is preceded in death by her sister, Rose Ann (Ferrese) Pane, and survived by her Brother-in-law and "second husband," Joseph Pane, as well as her nieces Anita Pane Whiteford and Bruce, and Marcia Pane Satkowski and Jason. She leaves behind beloved brothers-in-law, sisters-in law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and their children, scattered throughout the United States, for whom she prayed daily. She is also survived by her treasured cousins, John Topalanchik, wife Pam and son, John, Jr., Emily Topalanchik, Amanda Delonti, Joseph and Mariclair Ferrese, Patrick Arvonio, MaryAnn Fuller Guziewicz, and Louis Samela.
Mary Ann's life will be celebrated in visitation on Monday, October 20, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home at 318 East Drinker Street, Dunmore, Pennsylvania. She will attend a final mass in her honor at her second home, Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Church, 322 Chestnut Street, Dunmore, Pennsylvania, at 10:00 am on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
Mary Ann passed from this world with Jerry by her side, and her children kissing her face, telling her they loved her. The family extends their deepest gratitude to the team of winged angels in uniform, who labored to keep her body on Earth, including Dr. Bondhi, paramedics from Pennsylvania Ambulance, Dunmore police officers, and the compassionate Chaplain at Community Medical Center, who treated her and her family with consolation and love in her final hour. She is blessing, from Heaven, this team of first responders, one of whom served several combat tours in Iraq, and noted this was only easier because he was not being shot at, while trying to revive her earthly vessel. Victims of traumatic events were the beat of her heart.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to the donor's charitable organization of choice.
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