ORONO – Mary Ann (Chaplicki) Devoe died peacefully July 17, 2012, at home. She was born in April 1937, in St. Louis, daughter of Edward J. Chaplicki and Mary (Mahon) Chaplicki.
She moved to LaGrange, Ill., with her family when she was young and from there graduated from Nazareth Academy in 1955. She continued her studies at St. Mary’s College, South Bend, Ind., where she graduated in 1959 and earned her master’s degree in mathematics from Michigan State University in 1961. At Nazareth Academy, Mary Ann was valedictorian of her class and named its All Nazareth Girl in 1955. At St. Mary’s College, she was one of five women majoring in mathematics in her class, and a member of Kappa Gamma Pi, National Scholastic and Activity Honor Society of Catholic Women’s Colleges. It was while attending St. Mary’s that she met her future husband, Dana C. Devoe, who was studying at Notre Dame Law School across the street. Mary Ann taught Math at Old Town High School for one year until the first of her six children was born. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and caring grandmother, known for her homemade meals, pies, clothes and birthday parties. She also served as a caring den mother in Cub Scouts and troop leader in Girl Scouts. Mary Ann resumed her teaching career in 1990 joining the University of Maine Onward Program as a math instructor and retired in 1999. Mary Ann was very active at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish, where she served on its parish council and as its president, was religious education coordinator and taught CCD, served on the worship and spirituality committee, and continued in various roles with the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord where she also served as Eucharistic minister for many years. During her retirement, she was also active in volunteering at Attic, Bangor and with Orono Health Association. In addition, she loved travelling to visit her children and grandchildren all throughout the U.S. She was a skilled and dedicated quilter and card maker, and was also known for knitting personalized Christmas stockings for each of her grandchildren. She also performed as the clown “Perfessir Purple.”
Mary Ann is survived by her children, Joseph P. Devoe and wife, Suzie, their two sons, Parker and Barron, Robert A. Devoe and wife, Martha, and their two daughters, Sarah and Mary, Mary C. Sawyer and three sons, Raymond, Joshua and Charles, and fiance, Scott Marcle, Elizabeth A. Phillips and husband, Chad, their two children, Henry and Ava, Therese M. Devoe and partner, Kelly Allen, and Paul C. Devoe and wife, Kimber, and their son, Lincoln; and niece, Nancy Chaplicki of Fontana, Wis. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Jean E. Devoe and companion, Elwood Ede. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of nearly 50 years; and sole sibling, Edward J. Chaplicki Jr.
Visiting hours will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, July 20, at Orono Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 72 Main St., Orono. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday, July 21, at Resurrection of the Lord, Holy Family Parish, 429 Main St., Old Town. Friends may make contributions in Mary Ann’s memory to University of Maine, Mary Ann Devoe/Fern Stearns Mathematics Prize for First Year Onward Students, University Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.