Mary Ann Chaney

Mary Ann Walterscheidt Dulle Chaney, age 90, of Jefferson City, died November 18^th, 2023, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City, MO.

She was born at the home of her parents, Emma Anna (Augustine) Walterscheidt and Sylvester Henry ‘Pug” Walterscheidt, in Morrison, MO, on March 16, 1933.  She attended Assumption Grade School in Morrison, MO, and graduated at the age of 16 from Chamois High School in 1950.

Mary Ann worked during the summers of her high school years at St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City, living in the “Girls’ House” on St. Mary’s grounds.  After graduation from high school, she took a full-time job working in the OR at St. Mary’s.  It was there that Mary Ann met her husband, Paul Victor Dulle, Jr., who worked in x-ray.  They married at The Church of the Assumption in Morrison, MO, on January 22, 1952, and moved to the Air Force base at Moses Lake, Washington, where their daughter, Rebecca ‘Becky’ Mary Dulle was born on January 19, 1953.  After military service, the couple returned to Jefferson City, and Paul completed his engineering degree at MU.  Son, Paul V. Dulle, III, was born in Jefferson City on October 11, 1955.  Their daughter, Becky, died May 13, 1958.  The family later relocated to Prairie Village, KS, where they lived for about a year and a half, at which time Mary Ann’s husband of 13 years, Paul, Jr., died suddenly of a heart attack.

Mary Ann & her son, Paul V. Dulle, III, returned to Jefferson City and Mary Ann began studies for her nursing degree at Lincoln University, finishing at the University of Missouri in Columbia (MU) with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  She completed her Masters in Nursing at MU in the spring of ’73, and began teaching in the MU Nursing Program in the Fall of ’73.  Additionally, Mary Ann worked summers and holidays as a floor nurse at St. Mary’s; she was the first Masters-prepared nurse at St. Mary’s.

On September 16, 1978, Mary Ann and Edward Julian Chaney (originally of New Castle, PA) were married at St. Peter Catholic Church in Jefferson City.  Ed and Mary Ann moved to Pleasant Hills, PA, where Mary Ann worked as an instructor at Community College of Alleghany County (CCAC), as well as in home health care during the summers.  After 15 years in Pittsburgh, Ed and Mary Ann retired and returned to Jefferson City where they moved onto the same street with Mary Ann’s son Paul and his family.  At the time of her retirement, Mary Ann was serving as acting Dean of the School of Nursing at CCAC.  Ed and Mary Ann traveled extensively; with her sister and brother-in-law, Carol & Sammy Mayes, they covered many European countries – Germany being a favorite destination.  She also taught English in Poland on two different occasions.  In all, Mary Ann’s adventurous spirit took her to 23 different countries in her lifetime.  She traveled to Africa, the Far East, the Middle East, and Mexico with her good friend Melinda Ligon of St. Louis.

Mary Ann was a bit of an Auntie Mame to her grandchildren.  She traveled with her grandson, Brent, to Russia and India, and with granddaughter, Alex Chaney, to England, Scotland, and Wales.  She also enjoyed treating Alex and her good friend Katie Pitts to many theatre performances.  Mary Ann was pleased to be able to help her brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Beth Walterscheidt of Elgin, TX, on their Christmas tree farm during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas for many years.

Mary Ann was an active volunteer at St. Mary’s Hospital particularly at the annual Ice Cream Socials.  She also volunteered for many years at St. Joseph Cathedral working weekly in the church office and assisting in preparation of funeral dinners for parishioners.  She donated a handmade, quilted tree skirt for the Christmas Bazaar for 15+ years.  She served as President of the Helias Parent / Teachers’ Association where she transformed the Helias Football Dad’s Night to the Parents’ Night so she could be on the sidelines for her son. Mary Ann was an industrious and energetic person who never saw a task that she wasn’t willing to conquer.  She set and held (for a few dozen years) the tire changing record for her driver’s ed class at Chamois High School – the first class in which girls were allowed to participate.  She was known to seek out information at the library in order to make household repairs; was a tremendous seamstress, tailoring suits for her son and a number of Halloween costumes, purses, and prom dresses for her granddaughter, Alex Chaney; she supported her daughter-in-law with unending spirit, kindness, and wisdom through the raising of the grandchildren; gardened and cooked up a storm; and cut her own grass until the age of 84.  She was famous for her Christmas cookies, baking up to 30 different kinds of cookies every December as gifts to family, friends, and neighbors.  She hosted the annual extended-family March birthday party lasagna dinner for years.  She introduced (from PA) to her JC family the tradition of the customary Polish holiday dinner of kielbasa, mashed potatoes, two kinds of sauerkraut, pierogies, and rye bread – a tradition which we carry on to this day. 

Mary Ann is survived by her son, Dr. Paul Victor Dulle, III (wife Lisa Butzer Dulle); grandson, Brent Butzer Dulle (wife Alex Struve Dulle) of Chesterfield, MO; and granddaughter, Alex Chaney Dulle of Jefferson City.  Additionally, Mary Ann has three great-grandchildren in Chesterfield:  William Edward Dulle, Gabrielle Hannah Dulle, and Patrick Otto Dulle. She is also survived by Dr. William Voss, long-term gentleman friend whom she knew for 70+ years, her sister, Carol Mayes of Elsberry, MO, and brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Michael Walterscheidt & Beth of Elgin, TX, as well as a number of beloved nieces & nephews, and great-nieces & nephews.  She was proceeded in death by her parents Emma and Sylvester (Pug) Walterscheidt; daughter, Becky; first husband, Paul V. Dulle, Jr.; and second husband, Edward Chaney.

Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.  Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Stephen Jones officiating.  Burial will be at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.  A funeral luncheon will follow in Cana Hall at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Helias Foundation or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City.    trimblefunerals.com