Mary Ann Preston

Mary Ann was born in Roebling, New Jersey to Andrew Hrivnak and Anna Janos on December 8, 1926. Her family moved to Joliet, Illinois shortly afterwards where she attended St Francis Academy, an all-girls Roman Catholic school serving the Joliet area; instilling a firm devotion to the church that would last a lifetime. Upon graduation she worked in the Navy Yards in Joliet as a mail clerk. She then was employed as a typist and administrative secretary at JL Feguson Packaging Company also in Joliet, Illinois. After marriage she devoted her time to being a stay-at-home mother and homemaker.

She met her future husband through a co-worker who suggested she look up his brother when she was in Miami, Florida on a girl’s trip as he was serving in the military there. There she met Pete Preston, fell in love, and subsequently they were married on April 23, 1955, in Wilmington, Delaware. They shared 65 years of marriage until his death in 2020. As a service wife she traveled extensively and lived internationally in East Anglia, England and domestically in Wilmington, Delaware, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Kansas City, Missouri and Lake Worth, Florida. Upon her husband’s military retirement, they moved to Deland, Florida in 1985 where they resided until her late eighties. Ultimately, they moved to Port St Lucie, Florida to be closer to family.

A meticulous bookkeeper she managed the household finances independently and home needs during her husbands isolated military tours to Iceland and Alaska as well as caring for her young children. She enjoyed spending time with her family the most, especially shopping and having lunch with her children. She participated in weekly bowling leagues until her eighties and continued to play BINGO into her nineties. Family nights were often spent playing Scrabble, working on a puzzle, playing cards, or watching TV shows together such as Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. She also enjoyed watching sports, especially football and basketball. She had a constant smile, contagious sense of humor, and generosity towards others.

Mary Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Pete Preston, and sisters, Francis Williams, and Loretta Wyss.

She is survived by her four children; James Andrew (Carol) Preston, Carol Ann Preston (Stewart Zimmerman), Anna Marie Preston (Marc Hassan), and Peter James (Jesslin) Preston; their three granddaughters; Amanda (William) Pack, Molly Preston (Josiah Gruber), and Sylvia Preston; their three great-grandchildren, James and Christopher Pack, Talia Gruber and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are pending with Holy Family Catholic Church, Port St Lucie, Florida. Burial will follow at South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida.

The family of Mary Ann wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff at Savannas Park Health and Rehabilitation Center and Treasure Coast Hospice for their care and compassion.