Frankenmuth

8 Why did our late, great, Mayor frequently write stories that were shared on her Facebook page and published in the Frankenmuth News? Perspective. The other side of any story. She was about getting curious instead of making assumptions. She was passionate about education and how storytelling can be a great means of learning for both the author and audience. Her other posts shared information and news to help keep people informed. She gained a loyal audience and wanted to make sure they received updates from all that was happening at the City and throughout the community from her perspective. She would put together lessons on the history of things such as leaf pickup or share what she learned about recycling and tax collection. And when the City had a graphic with educational information available, she would share that too. The stories she wrote were personal, intentional and carefully crafted. She welcomed guests and thanked people publicly for their good service. She was a champion of many events, people, volunteers and causes. Always lifting up so many through purposeful stories. Below is an excerpt from a personal letter written by Suzy Reider, friend and neighbor of Mary Anne. The less publicly known parts of her story are reminiscent of hidden treasures she would find and share when meeting others. Suzy says, "I learned volumes on parenting from watching her parent Zak & Emily. One of my favorite pieces of advice was: If they don't want hot lunch, tell them to make their own every day. My oldest has been making lunch for herself since she was in first grade, she is now 27. 'Riding the bus is good for them, they actually have fun.' And the stories she could tell. Endless lives she has touched." "We spent countless hours watching football and basketball together at all levels with our MSU seats together being the best of times. Oddly "The Boss" would start a group text on our theme for that week's game and we would plan our meals accordingly. God must have known His plan as she quietly passed that torch to me in the past few years. A Spartan Saturday will never be the same without her 'signature dishes' and Bloody Mary bar, game score predictions, beer shots and how long will Izzo keep going. She was green and white through and through. I will never go to a game at MSU again and not think of her." "Fashion. She ruled. Always impeccably dressed, pulled together. She and I would shop together with other friends and at times buy the same things. One time, at a Morning Rotary event The Mayor came in the same outfit I had on. I quickly went to the bathroom and made some adjustments. Later that evening she would text me and say I was a "true friend" for doing that. I could pre shop and tell her what she was going to buy and was generally right. I will miss that. I will always look at bright colors and think of her." "I recall the day her first grandson Quinten was born and she sent me a text with a picture and the same would be true for the next two. When Dorothy Zehnder passed she was going to have baby Graham and I got a text saying 'he's here' and I went over and got to meet and hold him. She adored Quint- en, Briggs, and Graham. They were her pride and joy. I will forever have her laugh, smile, and voice in my head as I move through life. I will try to be more like Mary Anne, smile more, laugh more, listen more, ask people their stories. Just the other day while at the Frankenmuth Florist picking up bows, I was out on the sidewalk talking to Keri Hudec. A car pulled up and asked why there were blue ribbons all over town. Keri and I tried to explain that the Mayor of our town had passed unexpectedly and the ribbons were in her honor. He acknowledged and said he was sorry for our loss. Mary Anne would have gone to his car, asked him what brought him to town and where he was from and tried to get his story. That is just who she was." Do you have a Mary Anne story? Feel free to share it with her family by drop- ping a copy off at City Hall. Do you have a story to tell that Mary Anne hadn't gotten to yet? Your community partners at Frankenmuth Living would love to continue her legacy of telling stories by including one in each issue of the Frankenmuth Living. Email your story ideas to ceo@frankenmuth.org. Perhaps it is your story or something new and interesting you learn about someone/something else in our community. Share that story with us as we seek to continue to learn from one another. Written by Jamie Furbush PERSPECTIVE. THE OTHER SIDE OF ANY STORY. SHE WAS GREEN AND WHITE THROUGH AND THROUGH MARY ANNE'S STORY ENDS WITH HER OWN WORDS: "ALL OF US SHOULD LISTEN WITH RESPECT AND GENUINE INTEREST TO EVERYONE'S STORIES" MARY ANNE SHARED WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN ALL THAT SHE DID. Dear Community of Frankenmuth,

• Cover