Mary Ann Fisher (nee Newman) of Bay View, WI passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 1, 2022. She was 74.

Born in Milwaukee, WI on February 6, 1948, to the late Ralph and Helen (Glynn) Newman. Mary was the beloved wife of John Fisher for 49 years.

A loving mom to David (Helen), Anna (Tom) McCormick, Laura (Terrance) Huven, Daniel (Christina Bowen) and Thomas (Marion Lynch), Mary was also cherished grandma to Liam and Ferris Fisher; Declan, Mary Catherine and Conor McCormick; Ryan Huven; Banjo Bowen and Rona Fisher; Cúán and Odhar Mac an Iascaire.

Mary is survived by her siblings Rose (James) Ernst, Dennis (Julie), Kenneth (Jan) Gotz, Anne, JoAnn (Daniel) Russler, Robert (Joan), Nancy (Terry) Haven, and sister-in-law Laurie Newman.

She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends and neighbors that she adored and was adored by.

In addition to her parents, Mary joins brothers James and Thomas in Eternal Life.

Memorial visitation will be held Friday, October 7, 2022 from 10 AM - 12 Noon at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 1023 E. Russell Ave., Milwaukee. Mass of Christian Burial to immediately follow at 12 Noon.

If desired, memorials donations in her honor can be made to the Bay View Historical Society or St Anne's Center for Intergenerational Care.

Mary was born and raised in Bay View, WI, the eldest of Ralph and Helen Newman's ten children. Mary's upbringing centered around family and a deep love of music. During high school, Mary was involved in numerous extracurriculars, particularly in marching bands. She became Bay View HS's trumpet soloist senior year, earning her the nickname "Queenie Hotlips". She also became the first chair French horn player in the Lake Band (throughout her life, she would fondly remember her times playing with her siblings and friends in Lake Band). And she also played violin and viola for the Catholic Youth Orchestra.

After graduating from Bay View High School and MATC, she continued to live at home in Bay View with her family, helping to keep the other 9 kids in line (and/or instigating more trouble depending on the day). During this time, she worked for the phone company, and throughout her life she could remember phone numbers like a savant - you could ask her for the phone number of the barber that we hadn't gone to in years, and she would rattle it off!

In the early 1970's while attending a concert of her brother's band, Truc, Mary was introduced to the man who stole her heart, John Fisher. Maybe it was the beret, maybe the sideburns. But, we all know it was the dancing. Marrying on August 25th,1973 at Immaculate Conception (I.C.) in Bay View, John and Mary danced through the next 49 years, cutting a rug at many family weddings, festivals and concerts - but the family kitchen remained their favorite dance floor.

Having lived in Romeoville, IL at the beginning of their marriage, Bay View called Mary and John back home. After living in a number of houses in the neighborhood, they eventually moved into the Newman family home where Mary grew up to raise their 5 kids. They would live there until down-sizing to the Bay View Terrace in 2017.

Mary's faith and community were of significant importance to her.

In living her Catholic faith, Mary earned a well-deserved reputation for hospitality - there was always room for one more at the table. Sunday brunch was open to all. Friends, fellow parishioners, and visitors were always welcomed for French toast and ham & rolls. She would often invite members of the military who had come to Mass at I.C. during a rotation at one of the nearby bases so they could have a home-cooked meal. Holidays and family cookouts were often packed with aunts and uncles, neighbors and acquaintances, and dozens of cousins. Many called Mary 'Ma Fisher', reflecting the care and comfort she provided to everyone who came into her home.

Mary loved going out to dinner (especially to Jalapeno Loco or DeMarinis), thrifting, going to the movies, bowling, crafting, traveling, or simply spending time with her large circle of friends.

While being a stay at home parent to five kids kept Mary plenty busy, as her kids grew older, she found great enjoyment working as a receptionist at Catholic Knights Insurance (now Catholic Financial).

Throughout her life, Mary was an active parishioner at Immaculate Conception. Giving of her time and talents to all aspects within I.C's faith community, Mary took every opportunity to be involved, from selling tickets at the spaghetti dinners to serving on the parish council.

Mary was a founding member of the Bay View Historical Society. She relished the opportunity to share her love of Bay View, the community where she lived nearly all her life.

A passionate Irish-American, Mary celebrated Irish Fest each August as if it were a national holiday. Spending as many hours as possible either volunteering or simply taking in the music, dancing and 'festing' with family and friends (and perhaps enjoying a shamrock cookie or three!) Mary counted down the days to Irish Fest each year with giddy excitement. She was also actively engaged with the Ulster Project and the Shamrock Club for many years, doing whatever she could to share her love of all things Irish.

Above all else, Mary was a proud mother to her 5 children. She instilled in them the joy of music, a sense of community and the value of making 'room for one more', while also raising them to be independent thinkers with the confidence to forge their own path. Their paths have taken them across the country and globe, the values Mary instilled are lived out daily and are being passed onto the next generation. Up to her final day, nothing gave Mary greater joy than her grandchildren, or as she referred to them, her "sunshines."

Mary's was a life well-lived and filled with love, faith, and community. Watch over all of us, Ma, and get some much-deserved rest.

PRASSER-KLECZKA

BAY VIEW CHAPEL 414-483-2322