Mary Ann Elaine (Ocel) Whiteside

Mary Ann Elaine Whiteside, age 88, of Ankeny, IA and formerly of Aberdeen, passed away peacefully in her sleep, at home in Ankeny, on Friday, October 11, 2019. 

Her memorial service will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 17, 2019, at Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, with Father Patrick Grode officiating.

A luncheon and time of fellowship will immediately follow the service at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center.

Mary Ann's wishes were to be cremated, with burial taking place at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery in Aberdeen at a later date.  

Visitation at the mortuary will be one hour prior to the service.

Memorials are preferred to the Aberdeen Area Humane Society, PO Box 1013, Aberdeen, SD  57402-1013 or The Salvation Army, 1003 Sixth Avenue SW, PO Box 268, Aberdeen, SD  57401.

Mary Ann Elaine Ocel was born on October 6, 1931 to Stephen and Anna (Horvat) Ocel in Minneapolis, MN.  This is the area where she was raised and attended school.  Following graduation from high school, Mary Ann graduated from x-ray training at Fairview Hospital.  

Mary Ann married the love of her life, William Whiteside, on June 6, 1953, and they made their home in Aberdeen.  For many years she was a working mother as an x-ray technician at Voegele Clinic in addition to caring for and loving their four children who were only three and a half years apart in age. She also volunteered for many activities, including Cub Scouts, church groups, the Aberdeen Red Cross, where she served as Chairperson for two years, and the voting polls.

There was nothing more important to Mary Ann, however, than her family, friends, and dogs.  Mary Ann’s most recent furry friend was “Winnie”, an extremely friendly yellow lab. Mary Ann was funny, she was feisty, and she loved to give to others.  She brought love, laughter, and fun to all those whose lives she touched.  Heaven is much brighter with her passing.

Grateful to have shared in her life are: children:  William W. (Sheri) Whiteside, Jr. of Aberdeen, Linda Chappell and Patricia Whiteside, both of Ankeny, IA, and Jerome (Kathy) Whiteside, of Buffalo, MN; grandsons:  Jesse (Amie) Whiteside, Bill Whiteside, Jordan (Ashley) Whiteside, Shane Whiteside, and Zach Chappell; great-grandsons: Jackson Whiteside, Gavin Whiteside, and Easton Whiteside; her brother, Robert Ocel; two sisters-in-law, Rosemary and Barbara Ocel; many nieces and nephews; special family friends, Sharon and Paul Hanna; and a very special group of life-long dinner friends.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, William Whiteside; her parents, Anna and Stephen Ocel; her brothers, Richard and Steve Ocel; and one sister-in-law, Betty Ocel.

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