MARY ANN FORBES

Mary Ann Forbes (nee Zigman), age 80, of Brunswick, passed away December 15, 2015. She was born December 6, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio to Frank and Mary Rose (nee Kasic) Zigman.

Mary Ann was an officer in the organization, Action for Brunswick, a citizens group incorporated for the purpose of converting the primarily farm based community, from a township to a village, and eventually to a thriving city.

In 1963, Mary Ann was elected to Brunswick City Council (Brunwick’s first woman Councilman). She became Chairman of the Finance Commitee, Member of Fire and Health Commitee, Co-Chairman of Citizens for Water Commitee, which brought City water to Brunswick from Cleveland in 1965. Mary Ann was also active in the toll-free telephone service to Cleveland campaign.

In 1965 she was elected to the office of City Treasurer.

In 1999, Mary Ann retired as a Vice President of Mellon Financial after 41 years in the commercial real estate field.

St. Ambrose Catholic Church was like a second home to Mary Ann, where she was Eucharistic Minister, an Assistant Sacristan, Member of the Women's Guild, as well as a Cantor for 20 years. Mary Ann was also a volunteer for many years at Pearlview Nursing Center.

Mary Ann was a survivor of the 1944 East Ohio Gas Company explosion in Cleveland, which claimed over 160 lives, including those of her mother, Mary Rose, sister Patricia, and Aunt, Josephine Kasic.

She will be dearly missed by her loving daughter, Susanne (John) Gerres; siblings, Thomas Zigman, Karen (Robert) Malec; brother-in-law, William Karnes; grandchildren, Dr. Jennifer (David) Gerres, and Jeffrey Gerres.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 41 years, Curtis, and sisters, Norene Karnes and Patricia Zigman, as well as step-mother Rose P. Zigman (nee Sako).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 11:00 am at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 929 Pearl Rd, Brunswick, OH 44212. There will be a visitation one hour prior to Mass at 10:00 am (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Cleveland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary Ann to Hospice of the Western Reserve Development Office, 17876 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44110 or the St. Ambrose Building Fund, 929 Pearl Rd, Brunswick, OH 44212.