Mary Ann Hoibakk

Mary Ann Hoibakk made one hell of a lasagna.

She was admired and known for many qualities and achievements, but none so much as her love for her family and her desire to gather them about her and stuff them full of great food and even greater love.

Mary Ann passed in her sleep at home on June 22, 2024, at the age of 81 in Prescott Valley, Arizona. She was born on July 30, 1942, in Chester, Pennsylvania to Henry Nicholas Bufano, Sr. and Helen May (Glasco) Bufano. A graduate of St. Anthony of Padua Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, Mary Ann went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University.

In 1962, she married Anthony (Ross) Rossillo, and became the mother of three children: Marialena Murphy (Gary) of Young, Arizona, Kristine Louise Riddle (Brian) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Danielle Nicole Morrell (Brian) of Prescott Valley, Arizona. After the end of this relationship, she married her loving husband, Roderick Hoibakk, in 2001 and welcomed his three sons (Ray Schlaht, Craig Hoibakk and Daniel Hoibakk) to her expansive family network.

Throughout her life Mary Ann worked in many capacities including secretarial work, registration supervisor at Yavapai Community College, and a capstone career with the US Forest Service. She enjoyed traveling extensively and explored the globe including destinations in Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador and parts of South America, South Africa, New Zealand, Belize, Italy, Sicily and all across the United States including camping in many National Parks. Mary Ann went sky diving, parasailing, river rafting, went on safari, and served on forest fire crews. Her bravery and adventurous spirit inspired us all.

While a dedicated traveler, Mary Ann’s heart was firmly in her home. Although she lived in a variety of places from coast to coast and places in between, Arizona was her true home. Throughout her life, her love transformed each house she inhabited into a welcoming home and garden for all who knew her. Possessed of a razor-sharp wit and a dazzling smile, Mary Ann had the ability to turn everyday occasions into something special. Family, both born and found, enjoyed her knack for creating happy holidays, fun-filled gatherings, and, at times, raucous parties.

Mary Ann was the youngest of three children. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, her brother Henry Bufano, Jr. and her sister Virginia Sklodowski. In addition to her daughters, she will be missed by 7 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, great nieces, nephews, and great nephews. Mary Ann’s presence will continue to be felt and remembered through the countless trees she planted in gardens across the US, her fingerprints on our hearts, and through her coveted spaghetti sauce recipe which she passed down to her daughters and grandchildren. She was amazing, and she was - and always will be - greatly loved.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Ann’s memory can be made to the Cottonwood Old Town Mission, 810 W. Mingus Ave., Cottonwood, AZ 86326, House of Ruth Pregnancy Care Center, 1198 E Mingus Ave., Cottonwood, AZ 86326, or the Leukemia Research Foundation, 191 Waukegan Rd. #105, Northfield, IL 60093 

A celebration of life event is being held at Thumb Butte Recreation Area, Site A, July 29th, 2024. Please come to gather around friends and family from 10:00am-10:30am. Service of remembrance to be held from 10:30am-11:30am and there will be time for fellowship and sharing to follow service. There will be light refreshments and beverages. People are permitted to bring their own food and beverage if desired.