Obituary of Mary Kathryn Mann

Mary Kathryn (Trauba) Mann set her spirit free on March 10, 2022, in Lacey, Washington.  She was born March 31, 1930, in Boise, Idaho, to Norbert C. and Gladys (Ankenbrandt) Trauba.  She spent time growing up in Boise; Oak Park and Hines, Illinois; San Francisco, California; and Spokane, Washington. 

She attended UC Davis, pursuing a degree in Home Economics.  But she felt called to a career in healing, so, after her father gave his blessing, she transferred to Washington State University for pre-nursing studies.  She became a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority.  In 1955, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Washington.  

She met her future husband, Albert Mann, through the canoodling of their mothers.  Their first date did not go very well, but Mary decided to give Albert a second chance.  The couple married in December of 1955.  They settled in Seattle and raised four children.  Mary worked as a Registered Nurse for Swedish Hospital, a Seattle Public Health Visiting Nurse, and a Registered Nurse with Group Health Cooperative (Kaiser).  She retired in 1994.

In 1999, Mary relocated to the Panorama retirement community in Lacey, where she spent 19 happy years.  Her final year was spent in the loving care of Carlene and Roger Reaves of Joshua’s House, an adult family home in Lacey.

Mary enjoyed travel, volunteering, reading, watching the Mariners, and spending time with friends and family.  She cherished family vacations spent at Kelly’s Resort on Lake Chelan.   For decades, she and Al played cards with the Seattle University “Good Guys” Bridge Club.  She enjoyed her evenings with a glass of wine and a handful of dry-roasted peanuts.  She loved looking at fall colors and getting backrubs.  She got a huge kick out of listening to her children engage in pun-riddled banter.  She was not a fan of hats.

Mary loved her family – her whole Trauba Clan – deeply.  She was the strongest, bravest, wisest, coolest, most amazing Mom and Grandma.  She was always there to listen and advise.  She was someone you could rely on in a crisis – keeping her cool when others panicked.  She was a woman of strong convictions in her faith, her politics, and her FIRMLY held belief that there is only one correct way to load a dishwasher – her way.  She was the Queen of the raised-eyebrow/eye roll.  (Her children take credit for giving her ample opportunities to perfect it.)

Mary is now back in the arms of her husband, Albert; she is reunited with her parents, her five siblings, Thomas Trauba (Sue), James Trauba (Betty), Ann Gallagher (Patrick), John Trauba, Norbert Trauba (Jean); sister-in-law, Gay Trauba; and her son-in-law, Mark Hatfield.

Mary is survived by her children, Michael Mann (Erin) of Tumwater, Meaghan Hatfield of Fairhope, Alabama, Kris Mann of Lacey, and Brian Mann of Seattle; her grandchildren, Heather Maberry (Ryan), Giovanni Hatfield, and Ryan, Kai, and Kalin Burgman; her great-grandchildren, Savannah, Aiden and Killian Maberry; her brother-in-law, Patrick Gallagher; her sister-in-law, Bev Trauba; and all her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at a future date, to be determined.  In lieu of flowers, Mary’s family suggests making a memorial donation to Catholic Charities USA at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

We love you Mom … you are with us always.

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