Mary Ann Arquette

Mary Ann Arquette passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on Sunday July 29, 2018 at Rosary Care Center, Sylvania, Ohio.

She was born on May 14, 1921 to William A. and Mary A. Shea in Toledo Ohio. 

Mary Ann was a graduate of Central Catholic High School.  She began her life-long passion for nursing as a student at St. Vincent’s School of Nursing, class of 1942, where she became a Registered Nurse.  She went on to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree on a fellowship at St. Louis University, followed by a Masters in Education and Guidance Counseling degree from Mary Manse College, and an Education Specialist degree from the University of Toledo.    

She worked as a nurse for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia at the end of World War II, and then taught at the Mercy School of Nursing in Toledo. 

In 1947, she married Harold Arquette and retired to raise their four children.  Harold passed away in 1998, after 51 years of marriage. 

With her children nearly grown, Mary Ann returned to part-time work at the Mercy School of Nursing in the early ‘60’s, and then moved to St. Vincent’s School of Nursing, joining their faculty in 1964, as the Director of Counseling and Recruitment.  In 1978, she was named the Assistant Director of Nursing, and retired in 1985. 

Mary Ann was active in several community organizations, including the Lucas County Cemetery Commission, Zonta, Toledo Artists’ Club, Pi Lambda Theta Education Honorary, The Athena Group, The Salesians, the Toledo/Lucas County Genealogy Society, North End Group, Cathedral Players, a contributing writer for Kingston of Sylvania’s Newsletter, and she also played in many bridge and pinochle groups. In addition, she was a member of Central Catholic High School, University of Toledo, Mercy College, St. Vincent’s and St. Louis University Alumni Associations. She was a dedicated Eucharistic minister at Mercy, St. Vincent’s and St. Anne’s Hospitals and also worked in the archives at St. Vincent’s Hospital.

She is survived by her children - Robert [Mary], John [Debbie], James [Midge] and Catherine “Kitty” Barnett [Ken]; grandchildren – Andy [Kelly], John [Erika], Lisa [Paul], Jessica, Peter [Nancy], Allison [Jeremy] and Angela,19 great-grandchildren, brother, Denny [Joan] Shea and many nieces and nephews.

A gathering will be held on Friday, August 10th at Reeb Funeral Home from 3:00 to 8:00 pm, 5712 Main Street, Sylvania, Ohio.  A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 11th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 5373 Main Street, Sylvania, Ohio, 43560, the liturgy  will be live streamed go to www.stjoesylvania.org..

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary Ann’s name to the Sisters of Saint Francis, 6832 Convent Blvd, Sylvania, Ohio, 43560 and/or to the Sisters of Notre Dame, 3912 Sunforest Ct., Toledo, Ohio 43623.

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