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FUNERAL HOME

Lakeview Funeral Home - Chicago

1458 West Belmont Avenue

Chicago, Illinois

Maryann Brandon Obituary

Brandon, Maryann Frances Age 80, of Chicago passed away May 8, 2018. Loving wife of the late Richard Charles Brandon (2015); amazing mother of the late Dawn (David) Williams, April Holtzman, Melody Blackburn, Forrest (Kimberly) and Franklin (Janet); treasured grandmother of 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; daughter of the late Herbert C. Dony and Marion Carlson and sister of the late brothers, Tom, Jim, and Herbert (Pinky). Maryann - The little lady with the red hair who was full of spunk! She was named for her Grandmothers, Marie and Anna. Frances was her Godmother's name. Her nickname, meaning kitten, was Mutzy. Maryann was considered the hugger. If you entered her world you would always be given a hug as a greeting and a good-bye if you liked it or not. She had a quick wit and a wry sense of humor, and was known as the "Crafty Lady". She had little tidbits of information that she would share. She called these her useless trivia. She was a people person, without a prejudice toward anyone. Maryann lived her whole life in Chicago. She was the eldest child and the only girl of four. She grew up poor but proud and hard working. At a young age she started working to help her family. Her first job at the age of 10 was in a hospital setting up meal trays. She was very close to her Grandma and would take 3 buses to help her in the bakery. Maryann met her husband (her Richard) at the Logan Square Boys Club were they both volunteered. She was 16 and he was 18 years old. She liked to say "I chased him until he caught me". They were engaged on her 18th birthday (July 16th). They married on December 23, 1955. They lived in an apartment for 10 years. Then moved to the house on Richmond street where they lived the rest of their lives. This neighborhood was always like family and she knew everyone. The house on Richmond street was a home filled with love. She worked hard to provide her children things that she did without growing up. There was always home cooked meals and a big pot of soup on the stove. She shared the world of culture, arts, nature, environment and community. Holidays and parties were always extra special times. This home became her place of work where she was a day care provider for 312 children. She called these children her "Little People"; they knew her as Aunt Maryann. She was very full-filled with this chosen profession. When asked how old she was, she always answered 105! Even though she wasn't really 105 she packed 105 years into her 80 years of life. She was always the person to jump in and help where needed. She was both a Girl and Boy Scout leader, PTA president, very involved at the Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club where Richard worked, an active member of 2U Unitarian church, the Buddhist Temple of Chicago and volunteered for countless causes in her community. Maryann never met a never met a stranger and would connect with her neighbors, hairdresser, doctors, pharmacist, mailman, checkout clerks, her children's friends etc., etc. These people became friends. If you were her friend then you received a Christmas card and a birthday card for the rest of your life. She loved to reach out to people with the mail so they knew they were in her heart and thoughts. Her wish for the future is: "Peace". Peace be with you as you reminisce about this amazing woman. To quote her: "Smile, It makes people wonder what you've been up to." In lieu of flowers, donations to Bright Dawn Home Spread - 4524 N. Richmond St., Chicago, IL 60625 - are most welcomed. A memorial service will be held at a future date. Info Lakeview Funeral Home, 773-472-6300 or www.LakeviewFuneralHome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chicago Sun-Times on May 13, 2018.

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for Maryann Brandon

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Margaret Walker

December 4, 2018

Wow it is Christmas time already and I will miss Mary Ann's cards and gifts... Thinking of Mary Ann again this morning.

Scott Moskowitz

December 3, 2018

MaryAnn was a great lady. sorry to hear of her passing today and I am very sad. She was always so kind to me. Such a special woman with the warmest heart. I will cherish my memories of her and our long conversations on the phone. Rest in Paradise wonderful lady.

Lorri

May 17, 2018

I was just reading this post about Maryann Frances and wanted to say how sorry I am to the family for their loss.

Linda Morford

May 15, 2018

Jim and I are saddened by the news of Maryann's passing. She was such a special friend and we cherish the memories of the many times we were together in Chicago and at Bright Dawn Homespread with both Maryann and Richard. She was a mother to so many -- so skilled with her crafts and her flowers, and true wizard in the kitchen. We will miss her many cards and notes, her jokes and puns, and her tender words of care and wisdom.

Christmas 2006

Margaret Walker

May 14, 2018

I am so sorry to hear this, I just spoke to her a month or so ago and she mentioned how the basement and the house been re-done and how please she was about it. She (and Richard) were the best neighbors anyone could have, from giving me advice on planting flowers (dig a hole and stick them in, she said) to helping to set up the annual neighborhood garage sale (get up early), to letting me know what nice things were going on around the hood. She will be SO missed and will always be in our thoughts...

Franklin Brandon

May 14, 2018

Mom,

I hope that you are at peace with dad (Richard C Brandon), Dawn, your brothers Uncle Tom, Uncle Jim, Uncle Pink, your mom, and your dad.

REQUIEM aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat ei in pace. Amen.

ETERNAL rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

The Our Father Prayer- Espaniol

Padre nuestro, que estás en el cielo. Santificado sea tu nombre. Venga tu reino. Hágase tu voluntad en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día. Perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en tentación y líbranos del mal. Amén.

The Our Father Prayer in German

Vater unser im Himmel,geheiligt werde dein Name. Dein Reich komme. Dein Wille geschehe, wie im Himmel so auf Erden. Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute.

Und vergib uns unsere Schuld, wie auch wir vergeben unsern Schuldigern. Und führe uns nicht in Versuchung, sondern erlöse uns von dem Bösen. Denn dein ist das Reich und die Kraft und die Herrlichkeit in Ewigkeit. Amen.

The Richmond family

May 13, 2018

Please accept our deepest condolences for the loss of dear MaryAnn. May the God of all comfort be with you and he family during this difficult time. Matthew 5:4

V T

May 13, 2018

My sincere condolences to the Brandon family. May the God of comfort help you during this difficult time.

Janet Dony

May 12, 2018

I will truly miss my sister-in-law MaryAnn. She was always a very kind hearted person and always making you feel special and loved. She was Loved by many and was a GREAT lady. Rest In Peace.

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