Mary Ann (Repko) Steffanci Doerk passed away peacefully on April 16, 2024 from an unwelcome brain tumor that was discovered quite by accident six months earlier. Up until that point, she was a loving, feisty, active 95-year-old beloved by her family, friends, and everyone whoever met her.
Mary Ann was born in Phoenixville, PA on September 22, 1928 to her parents Margaret (Sheeler) Repko and Michael A. Repko. After graduating from Reading Catholic High, which she attended by riding the train from Pottstown to Reading every day, she attended St. Joseph’s School of Nursing and graduated with her R.N. degree in 1949.
Her initial time as an R.N. was short-lived as she met a handsome soldier from Beacon, New York who was recuperating from friendly fire from the war in Korea at the Valley Forge Army Hospital. Mary Ann married Joseph Steffanci on May 26, 1951.
Very soon thereafter Mary Ann and Joe had their first child, Christine (Tina) and embarked on a whirlwind 10 years stationed all across the U.S. and Europe. Eventually, Joe became a helicopter pilot in the Army and Mary Ann had 5 small children. Sadly, on October 10, 1961, Joe was killed in a military helicopter crash. She returned home to Pottstown with her 5 little ones and pregnant with her youngest son.
Mary Ann cheerfully raised her brood with the help of her mother, Margaret on N. Hanover Street in Pottstown. Their home was filled with love and laughter, although mostly the kids were trying to get their mom to laugh at their antics. During this time, she worked as the librarian at St. Aloysius Elementary School and the manager of the snack bar at Laurelwood Swimming Pool. These jobs allowed her to continue to be a stellar mom and bring home some extra funds for all those kids’ shoes from the Royal Shoe Store, pay for piano lessons, and make sure they could swim without drowning because she could not swim! She returned to her nursing roots and joyfully worked with special needs adults at Pennhurst for a few years.
All the while, Mary Ann made life-long friends, played Bridge with other moms, and loved to dance when she could. As a beautiful redhead, it wouldn’t be long before some handsome gent would woo her with dance moves.
In 1972, Mary Ann married Arno F. Doerk of Farmington Ave. Arno brought Mary Ann the Melodee Aces, fishing trips to the shore, and two amazing step-daughters into the life of the Steffanci family. Mary Ann and Arno spread their wings to a cabin in Canada, a house in Florida and boats and vegetable gardens everywhere. She also learned to be a dog owner if never quite a dog lover with adorable Putzi and Fifi.
She has been a faithful member of St. Aloysius Parish every since she attended there as a child, sent her children there, and many of her grandchildren as well. Her church family is among her dearest friends. Her daily Mass habit always gave her great comfort and peace. Her favorite pew is no doubt wondering where she is.
In 1995 Mary Ann lost her daughter Cindy (Cynthia Steffanci Baseley), and her mother Margaret. In 1998 her husband, Arno passed away.
She has spent the last 30 years attending church, traveling, keeping her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren close and in line. She continued to dance and realized that she could loosen her purse strings a bit and have some fun. To the delight of her children, her sense of humor expanded every year and she was enjoying all her golden years with great gusto.
Mary Ann became a Facebook legend with TikTok videos made during the pandemic that brought people from far and wide into her circle. The people who love her seem to be infinite because she has touched that many lives in a positive way. She was generous to a fault to a myriad of charities, so much so, that her family could only pick one.
Should you care to share in Mary Ann’s legacy, she would be so delighted to have any contributions made to the Pottstown Beacon of Hope.
Mary Ann wanted you all to know that she loves you beyond measure, you have made her life on earth special in every way. She wants you to go to church, pray for her and everyone who needs prayer. And most of all she wants you to live your life to the fullest because 95 years just wasn’t quite enough for her and it shouldn’t be for you either.
Mary Ann’s parents Margaret and Michael predeceased her, as did her three brothers: Richard Repko, Raymond Repko, and David Repko. Her daughter Cynthia (Steffanci) Baseley also predeceased her. She is survived by her children: Heidemarie (Doerk) Pennypacker (Harold), Margrit (Doerk) Gellrich (James), Christine (Steffanci) Dahms (William), Joseph “Chip” Steffanci (Linda), Cathleen (Steffanci) Sikorski (John), Caren (Steffanci) Yucha (Randy), William Stefanacci.
She is survived by grandchildren: Colin Dahms, Katherine Carr, Kimberly Dahms, Jeffrey Baseley, Nicholas Steffanci, Dana Steffanci, Rachel Crowley, Margot Borden, Sarah Giordani, Tyler Yucha, Jordan Yucha, Juliana Gellrich, Jason Pennypacker, and Ozzie Pennypacker.
She is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren, wonderful in-laws, and many nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday May 4, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, 223 Beech St., Pottstown, PA 19464. Burial will follow at St. Aloysius New Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday from 9:00-10:45 AM in the church gathering center.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to: Pottstown Beacon of Hope, P.O. Box 60, Pottstown, PA 19464
https://pottstownbeaconofhope.networkforgood.com
Flowers can be sent to St. Aloysius Church 223 Beech St. (the corner of Beech and N. Hanover Sts.) Pottstown, PA 19464 to be delivered on Saturday, May 4th by 8:00 A. M.