Mary Ann Fassbach Monday was born on June 11, 1924 to Richard and Maria Fassbach. She grew up in Miami where she met her husband, Ralph Monday, at a roller rink in 1941. She would end up marrying Ralph and adopting North Carolina as her home in 1942.
She is survived by her five children, Harry Monday, Mary Ann Monday Yount, Connie Monday, Terry Monday and Gene Monday.
Mary Ann started the Playhouse Daycare in Claremont, one of the first daycares in Catawba County. It was unusual, and even difficult at times, for women to own a business in the 1960s, but the fact that Mary Ann did it anyway is no surprise to anyone who knew her. She always said “Yes!” to any opportunity to go on an adventure, overcome a challenge or give someone a hug or kiss on the cheek.
In that spirit, she and Ralph travelled the world together, from SCUBA diving in the Carribean to the pyramids of Egypt. Their friends and family members never knew what country they might receive a gift or birthday card from.
Even close to home, Mary Ann knew how to find fun. She held a Senior Olympics gold medal in bowling. With one of her children or eight granddaughters as her driver, one of her favorite activities was to set off for a drive in the mountains in search of a good meal and a waterfall. Her infamous shortcuts usually added an hour, or three, to the trip, but you could count on her to have plenty of stories to fill the time.
Mary Ann spent her last days sharing love and lots of stories with family and passed away at the age of 96 on October 19, 2020. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy lives on in everyone who met her. She inspired us all to live with joy, to love wholeheartedly and to never turn away from a new experience.
Left to carry on the adventure, in addition to her five children, are her granddaughters, Mary Elizabeth Yount Sain, Heather Monday, Jessica Yount Hayes, Caroline Monday, Morgan Monday Jones, Sarah Monday, Macon Monday and Rachel Monday; and her great grandchildren, Kaitlyn Sain, Grace Sain, Kate Douge, Kara Douge, Jack Hayes, Nate Hayes, Sidney Jones and Lucas Jones.
Mary Ann was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in Claremont and requested that those who choose to give a gift in her memory make a contribution to the church’s building fund, First Baptist Church of Claremont, P.O. Box 489, Claremont, NC 28610 or Suzuki School of the Arts of Hickory, P.O. Box 3589, Hickory, NC 28603.
The family would also like to support the Suzuki School of the Arts (https://www.suzukischool.net).
The Monday family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover, NC.
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