Mary Ann Rose (Wagner) Fajvan left her earthly body on April 14, 2021 after a brief illness. She was born on June 11, 1935 in Passaic, NJ. The daughter of Joseph Emery Wagner and Mary Anna (Estok) Wagner, and Stepmother Rose (Paul) Wagner, she grew up in Lodi, NJ and spent her childhood experiencing many adventures with her father, especially deep-sea fishing. In high school, she excelled at accordion and violin and played in the school orchestra. She was also an active member of her church's CYO group and loved traveling to local dances and entertaining her friends with her humor and silly antics. Upon graduation, she attended Catherine Gibbs Secretarial School and was employed for several years before she met the love of her life in 1956, George Fajvan.
Mary Ann and George married in May, 1957 and started their life together in Jersey City, NJ later moving to Lyndhurst, NJ where their four children (Mary Ann, Vivian, George Joseph, and Alan Andrew), grew up. While George mostly worked the night shift, Mary Ann single-handedly persevered raising 4 children and volunteering as a Scout Leader. Her children took her on camping adventures, which once involved a hurricane. Her only time off was her Wednesday afternoon bowling league where she was a member of the "200 club." Throughout the years, she hosted the extended family at holiday gatherings in the large basement where the ping pong table was converted for dining. Her famous chrusciki was the hit of every party.
Always the life of the party, she danced at the weddings of her four children: Mary Ann and Rob, Vivian and Bob, George and Eileen, and Alan and Carrie.
Mary Ann and George retired to 'ole Cape Cod in 1994 where they established new friends and hosted neighborhood Superbowl and New Year's Eve parties. Grandma Mary Ann was always happy to see her 8 grandchildren Alex, Evan, Riley, Lily, Bridget, Ashley, Elizabeth and Jack. Grandma loved when grandchildren visited as they provided many opportunities to explore the Cape, get ice cream, and spoil them with her wonderful cooking. Grandma was always a source of entertainment, willing to play games or search for hermit crabs during low tide on Mayflower Beach. During retirement they traveled to polka festivals and the southwestern US, especially enjoying Las Vegas casinos where Mary Ann was notorious for beating the odds against one-arm bandits.
Mary Ann cherished her family and saved special mementos of all aspects of her life. She is preceded in death by her son Alan and stepbrothers James and Stephen Paul.
Mary Ann died as she lived. Fearlessly. Her spirit, perseverance, and especially her laughter, are always with us. A family celebration of her life will take place at a later date.