Mary Ann Whisenant passed into the loving arms of her Savior in the early hours of the morning June 18, 2021. Born August 3, 1937 in Chewela, Washington to Joseph LaRoche and Elizabeth Neidhart , Mary Ann grew up in the strength of her Catholic faith and surrounded by the love of her parents, siblings and extended family. She is survived by her four loving children Theresa Ikstrums, Ken Whisenant (Leanne), Laurie Bisset (Joel) and Greg Whisenant (Sarah) and "extra son" Perry Jordan. She also leaves behind her beloved granddaughters Anna Solomon and Marisa Trembley (Edward) as well as siblings Jeanette Richardson, Dan LaRoche (Candy), Jim LaRoche (Kathy) and nephews and nieces loved by her.

Mary Ann was the oldest daughter of six children, learning from her earliest years to embrace the role and responsibility that goes along with being a sibling of five and the daughter of parents who believed in the power of hard work. Graduating from Bothell High School in 1955, Mary Ann went to work in the automotive industry and never looked back, eventually retiring after a long career as an office manager at Roy Robinson Chevrolet Subaru. The adjective that best describes Mary Ann's life is "service" since she believed in giving back to others and being a representative of God's love on this earth with quiet dedication to her faith and her family. Mary Ann was an early member of St. Mary Magdalen Parish and one of the most important goals was for her to raise her children with a Catholic education, with all of them graduating from St. Mary Magdalen school. Mary Ann believed she had a responsibility to serve God through quiet service and was an active volunteer with Meals on Wheels, Volunteers of America, served as a Liturgical Minister and a Eucharistic Minister. In 2005, she was recognized with an award from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation in recognition of her commitment to volunteer service.

Mary Ann was devoted to her family while being the source of constancy and devotion to her faith that drew so many to her as a bright light and comfort. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2012 and has spent the last nine years wrapped in the love of her children so that she could feel protected, safe and loved just as she provided that to her children for so many years. Mary Ann truly believed that our God is a God of second chances and she lived her life knowing that her walk in faith could help others realize this same gift. There are no words to explain the loss of Mary Ann's physical presence in this earthly life but there is great joy in knowing that she is wrapped in the loving arms of our Savior, surrounded by her brother Jerry LaRoche, her sister Louise Wilson, her husband Michael Maher and other family members who have gone before her.

Please join the family in celebrating Mary Ann's life at a funeral mass on July 9th, 2021 at 11:00 am at St. Mary Magdalen Church. Following the mass, internment will be at Cypress Lawns Cemetery and all are welcome to celebrate with the family.

1 Peter 3:4: "You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."