Mary Ann Goldade, 82, Bismarck, ND died May 13, 2025, at Sanford Health, Bismarck. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, June 6, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hague, ND with Father Mark Aune officiating. The family will gather one hour prior to the service with a Rosary to be prayed before Mass. Interment will be held in the church cemetery. Lunch in the Hague KC Hall will follow the burial.

Mary Ann was born on July 11, 1942, in Hague, ND to Adam and Johanna (Pfeifer) Goldade. She grew up on the family farm two miles northeast of Hague where she enjoyed farm life and helping her parents care for her three younger brothers.

Most of Mary Ann's school years were in a rural single-room school one-half mile northwest of the farm with two years at the larger "town school" in Hague. Later she earned her GED and never stopped learning, regularly taking various classes for work and for fun. She was petite, soft-spoken, kind to everyone she met, and very self-reliant. Mary Ann was an eternal optimist. When questioned about a particular goal she wanted to achieve, she would smile and confidently declare, "Anything's possible!"

As a young adult, Mary Ann worked in Aberdeen, SD and Minneapolis, MN. In 1970, arriving with two suitcases and without knowing a soul there, she became a New Yorker. Mary Ann spent 52 years in New York City, holding different jobs; adding lifelong friends like Elena and Tess along the way. In 2002, she found her dream job when she started at the NYC Metropolitan Museum and soon became the much-beloved administrative assistant for the Objects Conservation group. Mary Ann loved visiting other NYC museums as much as she loved working with all the people at The Met who relied upon her. She retired from The Met in 2018. Linda, a long-time coworker, remained a dear friend, always ready to help Mary Ann meet whatever challenges arose.

Mary Ann enjoyed trips back to North Dakota to visit family and traveling overseas, often with her friend and travel-pal Olga, touring major European cities (and of course, their museums); her favorites being Rome and Paris. In Manhattan, she enjoyed street fairs, holiday-themed parades, and NYC bagels.

Mary Ann seldom rode the bus or subway. She walked and ran all over Manhattan. Running was a passion for Mary Ann. As a 25-year member of the New York Roadrunners club, she completed 191 official races, including nine full- and eighteen half-marathons along with countless training runs through Central Park "under her feet."

Mary Ann faithfully attended St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church. In late 2022, with her ability to live independently declining, she moved to Bismarck to be with her three brothers. In June 2023, she entered Assisted Living at Augusta Place in North Bismarck, where she especially enjoyed playing BINGO and outings at local restaurants with her new friends. Later that year, Mary Ann suffered a fall and moved to the skilled-nursing memory wing of Augusta Place. While there, she loved daily visits (and fresh fruit) from her brothers, recalling fond memories of days gone by, doing her physical therapy, reading, music, watching TV, and being the best sister she could be. Mary Ann finished her final race on this earth with grace and dignity.

Grateful for having Mary Ann as their loving sister are brothers: Tony (Luci), Gerald, and Willie Goldade, Bismarck; nieces: Stacey (Aaron Severson) Goldade, Bismarck, Erin (Jon) Kitzman, Fargo; Elisa (Jonathan) Eastburn, Holly Springs, MS; nephews: Ryan (Annie) Dreher and David (Rachel) Dreher, Bismarck; grandnieces: Emily, Joelle and Haven Eastburn, and Mya Dreher
grandnephews: Adrian, RJ, and Clayten Eastburn; Kade, Cole and Garrison Dreher.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, three older infant sisters, grandparents, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Her brothers are grateful to the staff at Augusta Place for the kindness and care Mary Ann received. A special thank you to all her New York City friends who continued to lift Mary Ann's spirits with prayers, gifts, letters, cards, and phone calls. Each kindness you shared brought a smile to Mary Ann's face.