Mary Ann Bart

Mary Antonette (Scaduto) Bart ascended into heaven on February 22, 2024, surrounded by the love of her family. She was an extraordinary mother to Lou, Joe, Antonette, Regina, Frank and Nick. She was a loving Nana to six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She also shared her love and kindness with her extended loved ones, David, Steven, Paula, Christine, Sarah, Ben and many others whom she accepted as her own. She was a wonderful Aunt to many beloved nieces and nephews, including Dominic, who is like a brother to her. Mary Ann was a devoted friend who treasured her many lifelong friendships, especially those she made attending Ursuline Academy. There, she adopted their motto, Serviam- I will serve, and embodied it as a mission in life. She spent her lifetime serving and caring for others.

A proud, first-generation Italian American, she was a lifelong resident of Springfield, IL, but her worldview and her impact extended far beyond its borders. In her early career, Mary Ann worked in laboratory and radiology. Before she retired from the City of Springfield, she worked in real estate and Community Development. She was a tireless advocate for civil rights and the poor and she implemented many innovative policies to provide housing for working families. Those who benefitted from her work would often return to thank her for altering the course of their lives. She was incredibly generous. Whether it was her time, food, emotional support or other resources, she always shared.

An avid reader, she never stopped learning. Mary Ann had endless curiosity and was interested in most everything in life. She enjoyed traveling, cooking, history, antiques, nature and horticulture. She had an adventurous spirit and was quick to participate in a new experience. Above all else, she enjoyed spending time with her parents, Paul and Maria Antonia, her remarkable siblings, Rose, Frank, Virginia, Cheterina, Dominica, Dominic, Josephine, and her many other relatives and friends.

Mary Ann was known for her kindness, intelligence, empathy, sense of humor, and patience. She was a keen listener and people were naturally drawn to her wherever she went. She exhibited an impressive level of strength and resilience throughout her life. Mary Ann led by example and demonstrated what it means to value what matters, to stand by principals with fortitude, to live life with dignity and respect and, above all, to love. We are incredibly blessed and honored to be her children. Those who met her were better for the experience and she is so sadly missed.

A handwritten note, discovered after her passing, read, “The greatest gift we can give to those who have left us is to live fully in their place.” We encourage everyone to do so in her memory.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated, in her honor, on Friday, March 1, 2024, her 86th birthday, at 10:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church. A Visitation will be held at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth Street, Springfield, on February 29, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in her honor, to the Mayo Clinic (200 1st Street, Rochester, MN 55905 Attn: Matthieu Lynch), the Springfield YMCA Strong Kids Fund (5 Lawrence Square, Springfield, IL 62704) or the charity of your choice.