Mary Ann Ganim (George), born December 28, 1946, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, July 24, 2021. Mary Ann leaves behind her beloved husband of 54 years, Don, their three daughters, Christine (Juan) Velizaroff, Terri (Keith) Anderson and Stephanie Ganim, as well as their seven grandchildren, Angelica and Diana Velizaroff, Jack and Olivia Anderson, Jacob, Zachary and Lucas Webb.
Mary Ann was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan to Leo and Diane George (Shikaney). She is the second oldest of 6 children and precedes all in death except for her father, Leo. She leaves behind her mother Diane (105 years old), brothers Leonard (Verna), Howard (Mary), Gary (Glenna), and sisters, Carol and Lorry (Fred).
Mary Ann met Don at a Lebanese Convention in Detroit, Michigan. Within six months, Don proposed and they were married on November 25, 1967. Because Don was in the Air Force they lived in many different cities before eventually settling in and raising their daughters in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1989 they moved to Key Largo, Florida where they owned and operated Ganim’s Kountry Kitchen, together with Don’s brother, Lee (deceased) and his wife, Roseann Ganim. After 9 years of happiness and success, they moved to Palm Beach Gardens to continue their legacy with Ganim’s Juno Beach Cafe for the past 23 years. Mary Ann was an integral part of their success at both of their restaurants. Her kindness and warmth that greeted each customer at the door is what kept their customers coming back. She was known as “the lady that would hold the babies so the mommy’s could eat in peace.”
Upon meeting Mary Ann, you instantly knew of her love and devotion to her faith, her family and her friends. She had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. Despite Mary Ann’s fear of airplanes and flying, she made the pilgrimage to Medjugorje 15 times over the course of 17 years to pay homage to Mother Mary. Mary Ann also showed her devotion to Mary by laying fresh flowers at the foot of our Lady’s statue every week for the past 25 years.
She was a very active member in all of her church communities. She did everything from coordinating fashion shows, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, leading a wedding ministry for brides and grooms, feeding the poor, praying the rosary and always, no matter where she lived, welcoming the parish priests into her home.
When Mary Ann wasn’t at daily mass, she was busy with her family. Her greatest honor was being a grandmother, and what an amazing one she was. Always putting her grandkids first, she is remembered by them as cooking their favorite meals (Grandma Chicken!), baking with and for them (Banana Bread!), taking them on walks Duck Pond!), tucking them in at night, reading them books, taking them shopping, celebrating Christmas and playing games, especially a family favorite - Rummikub.
Mary Ann was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in September 2019 and Merkel Cell Carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, in June 2020. Despite these two obstacles, Mary Ann’s faith and trust in our Lord were steadfast. Not once did her treatment interfere with her commitment or involvement with her family or community.
Visiting hours will be:
Friday, July 30 from 4 pm to 8 pm at Aycock-Riverside Funeral Home
112 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458
Funeral Mass:
Saturday, July 31 @ 11am
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
13591 Prosperity Farms Road
Palm Beach, FL 33410
Live-streaming of funeral mass can be viewed at StPatrickchurch.org
Donations can be made to the
The Brian Muha Memorial Foundation, 874 Helenhurst Court, Westerville, OH 43081 www.BrianMuhaFoundation.org
or to
Trustbridge Hospice Foundation, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407.
Mary Ann will always be remembered by her friends and family as a faith-filled, devoted, genuine, selfless, welcoming and kind woman.
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