Mary Ann (Smith) Riebenack

Mary Ann Riebenack passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, June 5th, surrounded by her loving family, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.  Mary Ann was born in Anderson, Indiana to Franklin and Stella Smith.  After graduating from high school, Mary Ann went on to college and graduated from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, where she met her future husband, Walter, while he was attending the University of Notre Dame.  While Walter was attending Notre Dame Law School, Mary Ann taught high school in South Bend, Indiana.  After Walter’s graduation from law school, they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for a short time and then moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they raised their daughters, Angela and Kristen. In 1976, she founded Worthington’s Women’s Apparel, which she successfully owned and operated until she retired in 1996.  Mary Ann enjoyed entertaining and decorating her beautiful homes, and holidays at the Riebenacks’ were great fun enjoyed by family and friends.  Mary Ann was a very gracious hostess.  However, her real and true passion was being a wonderful homemaker and loving mother to her children.  Mary Ann also had a grand time meeting her friends, of which she had many, at Germanfest and Greekfest.  Mary Ann especially loved the baklava.  Delightful times were also had tailgating at Notre Dame football games.  Rent a motor home, pack the food and libations and some good friends; Mary Ann loved those times.  Remember, Mary Ann was a terrific hostess.  And then there were the motor home trips to the Green Bay Packers – Minnesota Viking games at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.  Again, great times which Mary Ann loved.  Mary Ann was a member of the Saint Mary’s Club of Fort Wayne.  Every year she enjoyed meeting the new first year students that would be attending Saint Mary’s College before classes began.  Mary Ann is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Walter Riebenack, and her daughter, Angela (Dennis) Cecil of Indianapolis, Indiana.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Kathryn Paul, and her daughter, Kristen Riebenack, whom Mary Ann loved dearly.  Services for Mary Ann will be held on June 15th at 11:00 am EST in Fort Wayne, Indiana at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 10700 Aboite Center Road, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior.  Mary Ann’s services will be livestreamed at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church’s website at https://seasfw.org/livestream which will be available 15 minutes prior to the start.  Visitation will be held on Monday, June 14th from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne.  Interment will be in Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne.  Memorial contributions for Mary Ann are encouraged to Matthew 25 Health & Care, 413 East Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802.

The Livestream instructions are as follows:
Please visit St. Elizabeth’s website: https://seasfw.org/livestream
Scroll down and Click on “Streamspot”
The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, June 15, 2021 @ 11 am.
The livestreaming will begin about 10 minutes before.