Mary Landis

Mary Ann Landis age 59 passed away at Grand Traverse Pavilions on February 10, 2021.

Mary was born on Aug 26, 1951 in Ann Arbor Michigan. She was adopted by Joan and Sheldon Landis when she was 16 months old. She grew up in Grand Blanc, Michigan and attended Elmer Knopf Learning Center for children with disabilities, graduating in 1986.

After the death of Mary’s mother when she was 15 her older sister Gloria was appointed legal guardian. The two sisters spent the next 27 years together. Gloria worked for the Michigan DHHS as Mary Ann’s full time caregiver. Mary Ann and Gloria shared a lovely condominium in Grand Blanc and enjoyed visiting with friends and family there.

In fact Mary’s favorite holidays were Christmas, Halloween and “her birthday “ but not necessarily in that order, her birthday was probably her “favorite holiday “ and birthdays of family and friends was also a very big deal and a great time for celebration . She especially enjoyed getting “duded up “is what she called it for Holiday Dinners. This included a new dress, jewelry and corsage brought by brother, Dave and pinned on her dress!!!

Mary enjoyed receiving surprise gifts but she equally enjoyed giving gifts of all kinds in fact she was often celebrating her favorite holidays and birthdays weeks and months in advance. She really couldn’t stand waiting for the calendar!!!

Most recently and of course very early she was preparing and passing out her Valentines cards for 2021 to her favorite people and family and it wasn’t even February!!!!

Maryann’s gift of “gab” and ability to bring friends, family, Pavilions staff and complete strangers into her happy world was certainly on full display at the Grand Traverse Pavilions. She enjoyed 9 wonderful years at the Pavilions with Gloria being there for 5 years.

“Queen Mary “was a loving nickname the Pavilions staff gave to her and she also was known for her table gaming prowess earning the title of “The Queen of Sorry” which was her favorite game. Someone gave her a sign that she kept in her room that read “I’m kind of a big Deal” she made sure everyone understood that!!!!

Other experiences that Maryann was known for was believing she had some of the senior aliments she would hear other residents talk about or see on TV ads. She would than tell staff she thought she might have one of those conditions and needed treatment!!!!

She recently became “Great Aunt Mary “with the addition of twin baby girls to her nephew and his wife. Mary was quite proud of the twin girls and enjoyed seeing them on FaceTime for the last year.

Maryann was proceeded in death by her Mother, Father, Sister Gloria.

She is survived by her Brother, David and wife Jeanne, Nephew Brad Landis and wife Jacki, Great Nieces, Ada and Maisey, all of Traverse City, Nephew Eric Landis of Midland, MI, Christopher Landis of Ohio and Great Niece Paige.

The Landis family wishes to express their sincerest and heartfelt gratitude to the many friends, staff, and professionals who literally became Maryann’s family during the past year. In the absence of family in person visits and no field trips There was a big void in Mary’s life but that void was filled by so many loving and caring individuals day after day!!!!

Mary’s life at the Pavilions was filled with so many joyful and special moments including family and group shopping trips, baseball games and sailing on the 110 ft big sailboat on West Bay, every month came with new and exciting adventures. Thanks in part to all the wonderful medical personal and staffs from so many agencies that filled her life. It was some the best years of Mary’s life!!!!

A Special Thank You to “Tender Care Extended Living” in Traverse City, “The Grand Traverse Pavilions, “Hospice of Michigan” and “Grand Traverse County Community Mental Health“ for all their expertise and loving care of Maryann.