Mary Ann Rickus

Mary Ann Rickus, 74, of Tiffin, died peacefully at 3:25 p.m. Friday, October 11, 2019, at St. Francis Home.

Born April 18, 1945, she was the youngest child of Marie and Frank Rickus of Newark, Ohio.

She attended St. Martha and St. Vincent grammar schools and graduated from St. Vincent High School in Akron, Ohio.  She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin, Ohio in 1963 and left in 1973 before final vows.  She was known as Sr. Mary Dismas.  She graduated from St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in Toledo and went on for a Bachelor and MSE at the University of Toledo.  She served in a nursing capacity over the years at St. Vincent Hospital, Toledo Hospital, Visiting Nurse Service, Lucas County Jail Medical Supervisor and for the Toledo Public Schools working with medically fragile children.  While working at the Lucas County Jail, she, Fr. Ron Kurth, and Federal Judge Don Young worked to establish the present medical guideline for inmates.

She is survived by her beloved husband, George Marsh; stepdaughter, Tilney Fitzpatrick; sister, Rose (Larry) Marks; brother, Donald Rickus; sister-in-law, Maggie Frame, and five special godchildren, Timothy Rickus, Lisa Yoho, Andrea Landgraf, Alex Landgraf, and Andy Secor.  Also surviving are many nieces and nephews and two more generations after that.

Preceding her in death are her parents, step-father Jessie Ernest Houchin, step-brother, Jessie Jr., brothers Bernard and Jerome, and sisters Christine and Kathleen.

She was a long time active member of Toledo’s St. Francis de Sales Church, where she served on council, many committees, and was an Eucharistic minister.  She also later served at Blessed Sacrament Parish, and upon retirement she served at Danville St. Luke’s Parish.  While in Toledo she served as an active member on the CCMT Board, TMM Board, and Jail Action Improvement League.  In Danville she served on the Board of Sanctuary Community Action, which is a medical clinic and also helped out at the food and clothing center known as the Church Mouse.

In 2007 she and her husband George Marsh retired to St. Francis Villas in Tiffin.  In 2008 they became Associates of the Sisters of St. Francis.  She continued in social justice ministry, campus hospitality, prayer, and service ministries.

A memorial Mass will be 10:30 am Saturday, October 26, 2019, in St. Francis Convent Chapel, with visitation one half hour prior to Mass.  Burial will follow in the St. Francis Convent Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Sisters of St. Francis general fund, or to a special project of one’s choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe St., Tiffin, Ohio  44883, 419-447-3113.

To send condolences or for directions, go to www.traunerofuneralhome.com