Mary Anne Frances Prody passed away Thursday October 19, 2017 surrounded by friends and family at 103.4 years of age. She was born on May 16, 1914 in Michigan, North Dakota, the day electricity arrived in that town. She married the love of her life, Paul C. Prody August 13, 1949. Eventually they ended up in Fresno and became parishioners of St. Anthony’s in 1964. Mary Anne and Paul were very active at St. Anthony’s teaching religious education, cleaning the church, and washing over 100,000 purificators during their tenure.

Mary Anne was one of the charter members of the Queen of the Holy Family Guild at St. Anthony’s, an organization in which she held a variety of positions. For decades during the months before the annual rummage sale, her garage was so full of donated items; there was no room for cars.

She didn’t limit her work to St. Anthony’s church. She was also active at St. Anthony’s school, being on the school board for 8 years.

In 2004, she was Volunteer of the Year at Club 55, a service group for St. Agnes hospital where she and Paul drove cancer patients to and from appointments for years among other duties.

Professionally, Mary Anne taught at Washington Union High School from 1964 to 1986, she taught business and was president of the Fresno business leaders association.
Mary Anne was very crafty at getting people involved in her projects, such as assembling holiday dinners or Christmas presents for children in poor families. Perhaps you were one of her many minions.

She received the Bishops’ Award for Outstanding Service in 2004. She was the Catholic Charities honoree in 2013.

A great lover of the arts, Mary Anne was very active in both the Opera and Symphony Leagues, often hosting their meetings at her home.

Until the end, she was still reading the Wall Street Journal daily, buying and selling stock and playing bridge, she attributed her longevity to red wine and dark chocolate.
Throughout the years, Mary Anne has been a staunch supporter of Catholic Charities. She was also an avid animal lover.

She is survived by her daughters Gerry Prody and Paula Magdaleno, Paula’s husband, Jerry, her grandchildren, Andrea and Jerry Jesse Magdaleno, 8 nieces and nephews, and 6 grand-dogs.

The holy rosary will be said in her memory, 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 2, 2017 and a Memorial Mass will be said on Friday, November 3, 2017, 10:30 A.M.at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 5770 N Moroa Ave.

Please share any remembrances with either Catholic Charities or the Valley Animal Center.

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