Mary Ann Minasian, 83, of Jamestown, OH, passed away Sunday, January 14, 2018, at Kettering Medical Center, Kettering OH after a brief illness. Mary Ann was born on August 19, 1934, in Scranton, PA.  She was the daughter of the late Fedor and Rose Koch Salva. Before moving to OH, she was a long-time resident of Wayne, NJ, living in the same home in Packanack Lake for 60 years before moving to OH in 2016. She was an active member of Jacksonville Chapel, Lincoln Park, NJ where she was involved in women's ministries and was a devoted member of her Body Life group. Mary Ann was a gifted pianist and retired after being a private piano teacher for more than 50 years. She passed along both her gift of and love for music to hundreds of students, and shared her musical talents in church and music clubs throughout her lifetime. Several of her former students pursued musical opportunities and careers as adults. She and her husband Dave instilled their love for all types of music in their children, something they took with them into their adulthood.
Mary Ann was blessed with the gift of hospitality. She loved cooking, with big family gatherings being her absolute joy. No matter what the occasion or who needed a meal, she loved to prepare food for others. It can easily be said that it fed her as much or more to cook for others as it did those who ate her creations.
In her quiet time, Mary Ann loved to watch birds at her feeders in the back yard. She spent long hours sitting at her kitchen table observing the little feathered friends who came to feed, and learned the names of many of the species she observed, marking them carefully in her bird book. It gave her great joy to point out to her children the names of the different birds and describe their coloring to help them learn and recognize them and develop a love for this hobby. Mary Ann was a faithful and devoted wife and a loving mother whose children were her pride and joy. She was a caring friend and neighbor, had a wonderful sense of humor, and above all believed in the power of prayer. Her heart belonged to Christ and her trust was in Him.
In addition to her parents, Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, David T. Minasian, an infant son, David G. Minasian, a granddaughter, Melissa A. Koger, and two brothers, Fedor Salva, Jr., and Ivan Salva. She is survived by her children, Andrea Minasian (Kerry Grendon) of State College, PA, Leslie Koger (Danny) of Chesapeake, VA, Drew Minasian of Wayne, NJ, and Marney Bonk (Tom) of Jamestown, OH.  She is survived by 8 grandchildren, Kristen Koger, Jacob Koger (Ariel), Ellie Minasian, Rosemary Minasian, Katie Murry (Steven), Eddie Bonk (Megan), Annie Edmonds (Logan), and Emily Bonk. She was great-grandmother to Jeremy Koger, and had another great-grandchild on the way. Also surviving are one sister-in-law, Betty Salva as well as 10 nieces and nephews. Mary Ann leaves behind many other loving friends and relatives who will cherish her memory and the impact she had on their lives.  A memorial service will be given for Mary Ann on Friday, March 16, at Jacksonville Chapel, Lincoln Park, New Jersey, at 10am.  Memorial contributions may be made in Mary Ann's name to the American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA  22202. Condolences may be made to the family at www.NeeldFuneralHome.com .