Mary Anne Tefft

Mary Anne Tefft, age 96, wife of the late Edward G. Tefft passed away on December 22, 2025. Born in Syracuse, NY, she was a daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Kennedy.

Mary Anne graduated from high school in Syracuse, NY. She worked as a secretary at General Electric in Syracuse where she met her husband. They spent the first few years of marriage in Pittsfield, MA and Lyons, NY before moving to Auburn, NY where they raised their family. Mary Anne and Ed moved to Cary, NC for seven years, before moving to Royersford where they resided for 24 years. After Ed passed away, Mary Anne moved to Morningside House of Collegeville where she lived for the final eight years of her life. The family appreciates the great care, compassion, dignity and respect shown by the staff of Morningside House, as well as by Gentiva Hospice in her final weeks.

Mary Anne volunteered supervising recess and in the library at Holy Family School, in Auburn, NY, where her children attended grade school before being hired as a library aide.

The volunteer ministry closest to her heart was the Respect Life Ministry which she participated in at every location she lived. She was a public speaker and educator for the Right to Life Committee. In addition, her Respect Life Ministry included assisting Amerasian Families from Vietnam assimilate into schools, daily life and even participating in delivery rooms at the birth of newborns. Another Respect Life Ministry included hospitality for families visiting their incarcerated family member in Auburn Prison. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels as an organizer of routes & delivering meals when needed.

Mary Anne was devoted to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and shared being a caretaker for her father with her siblings. The family treasured her tea parties with the grandchildren, family heirloom recipes including Thanksgiving stuffing, potato salad, deviled eggs and pecan bars, and sewing gowns and coats. She enjoyed playing cards and board games. She was also a long-time Syracuse University basketball fan.

Mary Anne is survived by four children, Anne (Franklin) Hecht of Loudonville, NY, Carol Tefft of Royersford, PA, Linda Tefft of Latham, NY, and Edward P. (Annmarie) Tefft of Collegeville, PA; grandchildren, Amy (John) Heinze, Daniel (Jennifer) Hecht, Timothy Hecht, Brian (Beth) Tefft, Sarah, Cecelia, and Eric Tefft; and great-grandchildren, Johnny and Matthew Heinze, Phoebe and Benjamin Hecht, and Makayla Warner. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas and John and sisters Joan Diehl Murray and Sue Hiller, son-in-law Raymond Maldonado (husband of Linda) and step-granddaughter, Judy Maldonado.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Eleanor Catholic Church, 647 Locust St., Collegeville, PA on Monday, December 29 at 11:00 AM. Officiating will be Rev. Joseph C. Bordonaro. Burial will be held in the St. Ann Cemetery, Phoenixville. Friends will be received at the Church from 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Birthright of Pottstown, 327 King Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 or to St. Vincent de Paul Society c/o Saint Eleanor Church, 647 Locust St., Collegeville, PA. Condolences may be offered online by visiting www.RoyersfordFuneralHome.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Cattermole-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Royersford.