Mary Ann Bell

Mary Ann Bell, 66 of Perrysburg, passed away at home on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. She was born January 31, 1957 to Anthony and Mary (Flanagan) Iannone in Buffalo, New York. Mary Ann spent her early childhood in Los Altos, California before moving with her family to the Westmoreland neighborhood of Toledo. The large family atmosphere of the neighborhood provided a foundation for many lifelong friendships that she cherished dearly. Mary Ann attended school at Gesu and the St. Ursula Academy, where her love for learning budded along with the ability to stifle a giggle in Church.

Her spontaneity was infectious. During her college years, she convinced her best friend, Terry Martaus to hitch a ride to the Grand Canyon to hike it. She decided to pursue a Bachelor of Nursing from the Ohio State University after also considering Forestry. She loved the outdoors and helped build many trailways in Zaleski State Park. She graduated in 1979 and married the love of her life, Roger Bell, who she recently celebrated 44 years with.

As a registered nurse, she passionately cared for underprivileged communities, including the care of migrant workers. While her children were young, Mary Ann juggled work and family life while earning a Master of Science from the Medical College of Ohio. She tirelessly shuttled her children from activity to activity while stressing the importance of life-long learning and hard work.

Mary Ann was committed to furthering the professionalism of nursing and pioneered group clinic appointments at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. Patients that she worked with had chronic illnesses who needed frequent attention. Providing care in this way gave patients a built-in support group along with individual attention. She was a kind, gentle, generous, and respectful nurse who contributed to many public health programs including co-authoring a grant for the Healthy by Choice program which aimed to improve the health education of diabetics in low-income communities. Mary Ann also ran programs like Grandparents Raising Grandkids support group and Senior Armchair Exercise group.

Mary Ann was intelligent and brave, always ready to take on a new challenge. Her enthusiasm for continuous learning led her to earn a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Toledo in 2011. Her dissertation focused on the perceptions of emergency nurses to respond to an avian influenza threat, only years prior to the global COVID pandemic.

Mary Ann was an avid gardener, knitter, and pianist. She enjoyed traveling and visited family in Ireland and Italy, but also traveled to Guatemala and countless spots in the United States. She particularly loved vacationing with family in Tucson, Arizona and Leland, Michigan. She was a wonderful person.

Mary Ann leaves to cherish her memory her husband Roger Bell; daughters Adrienne (Matt) Williams and Jennifer (Brian) Patterson; grandchildren Henry and Leah Williams and Erin and Molly Patterson; siblings Antoinnette (Roger) Smith, Susan (William) Frakes, Michael (Margaret) Iannone, James (Terese) Iannone, and Anthony (Amy) Iannone; and many cherished nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, and brother Peter Iannone.

Family and friends will be received Friday, April 21, 2023 at 10am at St. Rose Catholic Church (215 E. Front St. Perrysburg, OH 43551). A funeral mass will begin at 11am. A celebration of her life will be held at the Carranor Hunt & Polo Club (502 E 2nd St, Perrysburg, OH 43551) from 12-4 immediately following the mass. Donations in Mary Ann’s memory can be made to Cherry Street Mission Ministries, St. Paul’s Community Center, or Leelanau Conservancy.