Mary Ann “Tootsie” Beres of Philipsburg was always uncomfortable driving in reverse, yet had no qualms about skydiving on her 80th birthday. In her lively 89 years she thoroughly embraced forward thinking and enjoyed watching NOVA on PBS which undoubtedly led to her decision to donate her body to science upon her passing on December 31, 2023, at Windy Hill Village Nursing Facility.
A voracious reader and Jeopardy enthusiast, Tootsie impressed upon her family the importance of learning something new each day. Her wealth of knowledge shall now be imparted upon Pennsylvania medical students through the Humanity Gifts Registry.
Born in Wilkes-Barre on December 4, 1934, Tootsie was the daughter of the late Michael and Anna (Gereg) Polinski. After graduating from Plains Memorial High School in 1952, she worked as a Bell Telephone switchboard operator. Thankfully, phone technology progressed almost as quickly as Tootsie, enabling her to text photos of her beautiful African violets to all of her family and friends.
Tootsie grew up in Plains, met her husband of 53 years Andrew Sr., who preceded her in death, and they moved their growing family and oversized Random House Dictionary to Philipsburg. She worked a variety of clerical jobs and served on the Philipsburg-Osceola school board and Centre County board of elections. Tootsie exercised religiously at the YMCA, crocheted many beautiful blankets, enjoyed a good scotch with great friends at the Elks, played rowdy Pinochle games, learned and taught others Mah Jong later in life, and danced to Polka music on Sunday mornings.
Tootsie’s diligence in caring for her body and mind likely aided in her warding off the worst effects of Primary Progressive Aphasia, a form of Frontotemporal Dementia, until the last few years of her life.
Tootsie saw the light in the world and appreciated its spectacular beauty, especially on trips with family to the awe-inspiring Northern Lights while flying over the Arctic Circle, the Broadway lights and Rockettes during a New York City holiday trip, and the fantastical lights of the Vegas Strip for her granddaughter’s wedding.
Her life will be celebrated by those who survived Tootsie’s many Trivial Pursuit butt-whoopings, including her daughters: Michelene Springer and husband, Gary, Elizabeth Elliott and husband, Michael; sons Michael and wife, Jennifer, Andrew Jr., and wife, Lynn; brother Michael and wife, Josephine; grandchildren Leah Street and husband, Jon, Joseph Tuorinsky, Zane Elliott and Maya Elliott; great granddaughter Quinn Street; niece/goddaughter, Joanne Polinski and her partner, Penny Sherrow; as well as extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by an infant sister, Gloria.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Mary Ann’s name to the Moshannon Valley YMCA, the Holt Memorial Library, or the Humanity Gifts Registry of Pennsylvania.
Arrangements are under the care of the Dahlgren-Spewock Funeral Home, Inc., 228 N. Centre St. Philipsburg, PA. Online condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.dahlgren-spewock.com