Mary Ann passed away peacefully on May 11, 2023. at the age of 64.
Beloved wife of 33 years to the late George Michael “Mike” Rigotti; beloved daughter of the late John and dear daughter of John and Theresa (nee Zinselmeier) Miriani; dearest daughter-in-law to the the late George and Bette (nee Pipes) Rigotti; survived by her dear brothers, Robert (Kris) Miriani, John Miriani, and dear sister Patricia (Lou) Nieman; dear sister-in-law Cheryl Rigotti and niece Kelly Rigotti; dearest aunt to Jennifer (Huck) Boozer, John Nieman, and Jason (Kara) Miriani; cherished great aunt of Everett and Bernadette Boozer; cousin and friend to many.
Mary Ann was born and raised in St. Louis and began her professional career at Southwestern Bell in 1979. She started as a staff clerk and after a few years worked her way into Management. During that time she met and married her best friend and love of her life, Mike. The two lived in St. Louis for a few years before settling back in Mike’s home state of Texas.
Mary Ann was an avid reader of books on just about any subject. She loved to cook and always experimented with new recipes for Mike and her to try. Most often she thought of others more than of herself and was always willing to offer a helping hand. Her most recent passion was falling head over heels in love with her great nephew Everett and great niece Bernadette.
A memorial Mass to celebrate Mary Ann’s life will be held on October 7, 2023, at St. Ambrose Church, 5130 Wilson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with Mass at 10 a.m. The Mass will be live streamed at www.stambroseonthehill.com
If you would like to honor Mary Ann’s passion for life, she has requested donations to either St. Jude Children’s Hospital (stjude.org) or The sick and Elderly Program of the Hill (sickandelderly.com).
“There is a number named pi, seriously that is his name (Bernadette giggling louder and louder in the background). Aunt Mary Ann, I love you a pi million, I love you a million more than pi, I love you so much more than pi, Aunt Mary Ann”. This was what Everett Jr. said to Aunt Mary Ann during her last week. I really cannot properly articulate how heart broken I am over my Aunt Mary Ann’s transition out of this world. My husband, children and I loved her “higher than heaven” as Bernadette says. Her strength, fortitude, faithfulness and love she maintained throughout her illness was unworldly. Aunt Mar never wanted anyone to worry about her and shielded us from some of the gravity of her declining health. She was a selfless earth angel, always wanted to help anyone in any way that she could. I miss her late-night text messages (she knew I was always up late after getting the children off to bed and doing all of the things around the house). I wish I could hear her say, “I love ya’ll” just one last time. I have such wonderful memories of my childhood when My Aunt Mary Ann and my Uncle John would come home to visit. We loved going to the Botanical Gardens. Aunt Mary Ann was such a gifted photographer (amongst many other talents) as well as my Uncle John. They both have that sense of humor that always made me laugh, those laughs that redeem the soul. In my last conversation with Aunt Mar, she assured me all was going to be okay. She said we would be talking soon but I knew we would not be talking on this earth. I am profoundly sad she could no longer be with us. She told me how much she wanted to go to Scotland someday and my husband and I should go with her (when the little ones are off to college). I really thought her tremendous fight of her illness would somehow prevail by some miracle. I am very thankful she is with my Uncle Mike and he is undoubtedly making her laugh as he was so hysterical, smart and witty. I told my Uncle John I wish I knew Mar was okay. I was in the backyard today and a beautiful red cardinal flew right up next to me. I miss you so much, Aunt Mar, my heart hearts. Thank you for all of your unyielding love and support throughout my life. I will never forget when I was expecting Everett Jr. and you were so excited and were “on the baby patrol”. Uncle Mike accommodated my first mother insanity of wanting glass bottles it was so very sweet. Sending my love and condolences to the rest of my dear family that we love so much as well as my Aunt’s friends who I have never met but she spoke so highly of her group of friends and how much love and support they provided her. With love, Jennifer Boozer