Mary Ann (Nespodzany) Grover was born on August 8, 1930 to Alex and Bertha Bialas in Chicago, Il. She remained their only child and was deeply loved by her parents.
Her love of music and dancing stayed with her throughout her life and during her teen years she worked in her cousin’s ballroom in Chicago, IL. There she met the greats of the 1940’s big band leaders such as Guy Lombardo, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Gene Kruppa.
She married Robert Nespodzany on May 1, 1949. They were blessed with five children. Linda Wasik, Karen Chick, Peggy Swatkowski, Robert Nespodzany and Kevin Nespodzany. Her family meant everything to her.
Mary Ann was happiest when she was planning parties for Jewel Food Stores where she worked for over 10 years. After moving to Missouri she was hired in the OB department at Lake Ozark General Hospital where all of the babies born there became “her babies”. She worked as a surgical tech in that hospital for 13 years. She also sang with the Sweet Adeline’s in Springfield, MO.
Mary Ann lost her husband of 55 years on May 18, 2004 which brought her to the Marshfield area. After four years she met Mervyn Grover of Springfield. They met for coffee and since she couldn’t get rid of him, she married him on 08/08/08. She was accepted into Mervyn’s church, East Sunshine Church of Christ, where she met and loved many friends who treated her as their own.
In addition to her children May Ann leaves behind two son-in-laws, Kenneth Chick and Richard Swatkowski, one daughter-in law Nancy Nespodzany, 18 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren and her special little darling, her dog, Dolly.
Mary Ann never met a stranger as everyone was her friend. She loved to talk to everyone and did so constantly. She will be deeply missed by all who she has touched in her life. She loved us all.
Services for Mary Ann will be at 1:30 P.M. Monday, April 11, 2016 at Greenlawn Funeral Home East with interment following in Missouri Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Sunday, April 10, 2016 in the funeral home.