Obituary of Mary Ann Fabel

Fabel, Mary Ann Loving wife, mother and grandmother, age 71, of Minnetonka, freed from the bonds of Alzheimer's dementia on Monday, April 30th, 2018, surrounded by family. Preceded in death by parents, Ray and Lenore Close and first husband Don Salzer. Survived by husband Lee; sons Grant (Emily) and Ben (Meaghan); grandchildren Fiona and Ivy; and brother Ray (Lila). Mary Ann grew up in Bryn Mawr and graduated from West High School in 1964. She majored in English and bridge at St. Olaf College, received her Bachelor's degree in education from Winona State and her Masters degree in Experiential Education from Mankato State. Mary Ann was an elementary school teacher in the Minneapolis Public Schools for 33 years. She was a strong advocate for children, becoming involved in Open Schools and Progressive Education early in her career. Mary Ann was a highly respected teacher and leader at Clara Barton Open School and became known as the "Plant Sale Lady" helping to develop the Barton plant sale into a major fundraising venture for the school. She passed on her love of reading, learning and having fun to her students and her love of dogs became evident when she regularly took her yellow lab Chloe to school long before it became a popular thing to do. Even as her dementia progressed, she never lost her love of children and dogs. Mary Ann was a cancer survivor (non-Hogkins Lymphoma) and a strong, independent woman. She loved reading, playing games and spending time with her sons, their partners and her grandchildren and traveling with Lee, her husband of 46 years and their friends to many places around the world. She was an amazing mother, wife, teacher and friend. At her sons' baseball and football games she was one of the loudest parents cheering in the stands. Her warm smile and infectious laughter will be dearly missed. The family thanks neurologist Dr. Richard Golden, Grace Hospice and the staff at White Pine Senior Living in Mendota Heights for their wonderful care. A Celebration of Life will take place in late June with specific information to follow at a later date. Memorials preferred to Planned Parenthood of Minnesota or the Animal Humane Society or Alzheimer's Research Cremation Society of Minnesota 612-825-2435