Mary Ann Kahane, dedicated nurse
Mary Ann Kahane passed away peacefully at her daughter Barbara’s home in Lewes Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. She was born July 3, 1930, in Chicago, Ill., daughter of the late Alice M. (Butcher) and Thomas McInerney, and moved to Murphysboro as a child.
After having five children, Mary Ann went on with her education to become BSN, and was proud that all three daughters followed in her career choice. She was also proud of her son Billy for serving our country as a Marine and a police officer, and her son Jimmy for starting his own construction company.
Mary Ann was employed at the Lyons Veterans Hospital in New Jersey where she met her second husband, Stanley Kahane. She was responsible for creating and running the PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) unit at Lyons, Va. Mary Ann and Stanley have filled many lines in their friends and families address books with their many moves up and down the East Coast. After several homes, they finally settled down in Lewes with their dog Murphy to be near family (the third time’s a charm).
Mary Ann was a member of a special club within Beebe Healthcare, called “Doctor Palekar’s 90 Club,” and she proudly made donations to Beebe Healthcare. She was of strong faith and belonged to Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Lewes. Mary Ann enjoyed watching “Blue Bloods” and wearing jewelry made by her granddaughter, Cassandra. Above all, she enjoyed time spent with those she held most dear. Mary Ann was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
In addition to her parents, Mary Ann was predeceased by her beloved husband, Stanley Kahane, who passed away in 2016. She is survived by her children: Mary Ann Smeader (Jack) of Delray Beach, Fla., Barbara Richards (Jim) of Lewes, Patricia Mitzak of Nazareth, Pa., William Brown (Shelly) of Bridgewater, N.J., and James Brown of Binghamton, N.Y.; her grandchildren: Kelly Ravens (Jon) of Tampa, Fla., Chelsea Brown (Aaron) of Waxhaw, N.C., Matthew Smeader (Carla) of Delray Beach, Cassandra Jantz (Jason) of Lewes, Jimmy Richards III of Lewes, Joseph Mitzak (Susan) of Skippack, Pa., Christopher Mitzak (Kelly) of Easton, Pa., Courtney Breiner (Mark) of Easton, Andrew Mitzak and Sacette Mijares of Orlando, Fla., Lt. William Brown Jr. of Bridgewater, N.J., Katie Brown of Bridgewater, Faith Coffman (Matt) of St. Louis, Mo., and Tommy Langley of Montgomery, Ala.; and her 12 great-grandchildren.
A memorial will be held at a later date at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro, where she will be buried alongside her husband, Stanley.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Mary Ann's memory to the Beebe Medical Foundation, https://www.beebehealthcare.org/donate.
The family would like to extend special prayers to Dr. Palekar who was instrumental in her care after her stroke and chronic medical conditions, and to Beebe Healthcare and the Moorings for their quality of care and compassion during her last few weeks.
Please visit Mary Ann's Life Memorial Webpage and sign her virtual guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
