Mary Jane Staab

Mary Ackerman Staab, age 80, passed away on May 3, 2017 in the same way she lived her life - with tremendous grace and an unwavering faith. After a visit with each of her children and her sister and brother-in law she executed a peaceful and perfectly timed exit, and blessed us once again by her ability to lift our spirits and enhance our family momentum. For the last ten years, Mary did battle with Alzheimer's and never lost her sense of elegance, gentle kindness, and compassion while dealing with that disease's challenges.

Born in Minnesota on February 4, 1937, Mary attended Holy Angels for High School before marrying Ed Staab and raising five children. As the family moved with the progression of Ed's medical career, Mary found herself in Maryland, Nashville, TN, Chapel Hill, NC, and Gainesville, FL. Born a Midwesterner, she passionately embraced southern traditions and enhanced them with her personal touches, and was able to simultaneously pull off being a loyal Tar Heel and a Gator fan. She returned to school to earn her undergraduate (with honors) and Masters (Summa Cum Laude) in the School of Design at NC State. Her field of expertise was landscape architecture, and Mary excelled as a National Flower Judge and Rose Society leader. Most importantly, she used her skills to establish "Tranquility Gardens" at the hospitals so that cancer patients could find comfort and calming after treatments. For his entire career, she provided amazing dinners and events for visiting Doctors, team members, and the interns and residents that cycled through Ed's medical programs. Every year, she enthusiastically worked with the church and other charities to help the disadvantaged and raised her children with that same expectation.

She is preceded in death by and her husband, Dr. Ed Staab, her parents Russ and Lucille Ackerman, her sister Jean Olson (Bobby and niece Suzanne) and brother Jack Ackerman. She is survived by her children - Barbara May of Atlanta (grandson Nick May), Ken & Cheryl Staab of Charlotte (grandson Jordan & Ashley Staab, great-grandchildren Sydney and Ryker, granddaughter Sara & Trey Hoover), Anne & Tom Soeder of Cary (grandchildren Christy and Joey), Tom & Angel Staab of Charlotte (grandchildren Maddie, Austin, and Carter John), and Rick & Michelle Staab of Gainesville, Fl. (grandchildren Tyler, Samantha and Luke). Mary is also survived by her loving sister Fran & Larry Happe of Naples, Florida, and was blessed by nieces and nephews Mike Happe, Joe Happe, Dave Happe and Robin Pagnac and their spouses and children.

A Catholic mass will be held Saturday May 13, 2017 at 10:30am in her honor followed by a Celebration of Life gathering at St. James The Greater Catholic Church, 139 Manor Ave. Concord, NC 28025, Main: 704-720-0600. www.saintjamescatholic.org/

Her family said goodbye to a powerful and loving influence in our lives, and now recognize the responsibility to be kinder, try harder, think more creatively, and love those that need it most in both Mary and Ed's honor. We are comforted by the undeniable sense of humor, compassion, and fearlessness that they used everyday and that we now see in our children, our cousins, and each other.

The Family would like to thank the amazing Nurses and Angels at The Gardens of Taylor Glen, Dr. David Tignor and Dr. Mark Robinson for an unparalleled level of compassion and support. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Tyler's Hope for a Dystonia Cure (www.tylershope.org) or to Alzheimer's Disease Research (www.brightfocus.org).