Mary Ann Kitto

BESSEMER, Mich. - Mary Ann Kitto, 79, of Bessemer, returned to her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, and was reunited with the love of her life, Dean James Kitto Sr.

Mary Ann was born on Oct. 30, 1945, to Dwight and Bertha (Thornton) Meredith in Pulaski, Virginia. She had a hard life growing up living in coal mining towns with her seven siblings. She always loved to share the different stories with her kids and grandkids about her siblings and family and the hardships they went through.

Mary Ann met Dean while she was bartending at the DC Club in Washington, D.C., where Dean was working at the National Security Administration. They fell in love immediately and were united in marriage on Dec. 29, 1972, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She even wrote a short story about her and Dean's life she called the "Barmaid and the Spy," since she was a bartender and Dean was a spy in the U.S. Air Force.

Once Mary Ann and Dean raised their children, Mary Ann decided to go back to school to obtain her GED. This was an accomplishment she worked hard at and was very proud of.

Over the years, Mary Ann met many people while working at Copps Food Center in Hurley, Wisconsin, and Stan's Big Dollar Super Market in Bessemer. One of the jobs she was most proud of was working as an activity director at Westgate Living Centre in Ironwood. She loved all the residents and planned many fun activities.

Dean and Mary Ann loved providing musical entertainment at the local nursing homes and churches. She enjoyed camping with her family at Marion Lake and made many special memories that they will cherish forever.

Anyone who knew Mary Ann knew that she loved to play pranks and tell ghost stories to all the kids, grandkids and all of their friends. She was never without a story to be told.

Mary Ann is survived by her children, Shawn (Linda) Kitto, Dean (Suzy) Kitto, Timothy Bodnar, Thomas Bodnar and Ted Bodnar; grandchildren, Bradley (Tori Wangelin) Kitto, Kelsey (Andy) Aspinwall, Michael (Stephanie Innes) Kitto, Brycen Kitto, Nicholas (Mindy Williams) Maki, Kyra Kitto, Richy Bodnar and Mason Bodnar; great-grandchildren, Kaysen Kitto, Raelynn Kitto and Paisley Kitto; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roland and Jan Kitto; a special niece, Joyce Yonts; and her four-legged companion, Max.

She was predeceased by her parents; her beloved husband, Dean, on Nov. 30, 2016; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Earl and Mary Kitto; and her siblings, Nancy, George, Lucas, Earl, Polly, Gary, Don and Gene, in infancy.

A celebration of Mary Ann's life will be held at a later date.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the Gogebic Medical Care Facility for the wonderful care they provided to Mary Ann. You all were very special to her.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.