Mary Anne Weber (nee Horst)

Mary Anne (Horst) Weber was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati on August 26, 1931 to William Anthony Horst, Sr. and Anna Catherine Tabeling. The oldest of five children, Mary Anne grew up in the vibrant Corryville neighborhood where tight-knit German, Irish, and Italian families made their homes. She attended the 23rd District School on Vine Street for Kindergarten, graduated from St. George School (now Corryville Catholic), and went on to Our Lady of Angels High School (now part of Roger Bacon). During her high school years, Mary Anne could be found walking or taking the streetcar with friends to parties, dances, movie theaters and any and all Roger Bacon games, especially basketball. After high school graduation, Mary Anne worked in the accounting department at Good Samaritan Hospital and then Trailmobile in Oakley. 

In 1951, Mary Anne met her future husband, Willam (Bill) Weber Jr., through a mutual Cincinnati-area friend, Frank Medosch. Their whirlwind courtship has the makings of a great movie. When Bill and Frank were shipmates on the USS Gurke, based in San Diego, Frank displayed Mary Anne’s photo in his bunk. Bill was immediately drawn to the petite, vivacious, brown-haired young woman and asked if he could write her. A brief correspondence ensued with the two meeting several times when Bill was on shore leave. The young couple married in July 1951. This auspicious start was the springboard for 59 years of adventures together. 

While Bill was in the US Navy, they made their homes first in San Diego and Long Beach, California until a transfer took them to Chincoteague Island, Virginia where they welcomed their oldest daughter, Marilyn. They returned to Cincinnati in 1956 when Deborah was born. Shortly after, Mary Anne started a 30-plus year tenure as the school secretary at St. Ann School in Groesbeck. It was often said that Mary Anne was the driving force at the school and ran it more than many of the principals over the years. This is certainly not a surprise to those who know Mary Anne; she was a strong, independent force in all that she did – not afraid to share her opinion, Mary Anne lived life on her own terms from start to finish. Much to the family’s surprise, Allison arrived when Marilyn and Deborah were teenagers and completed the family unit.

From an early age, Mary Anne’s parents instilled a sense of giving back to the community. During her teen years, she spearheaded the construction of Piedmont Playground by working with City Hall and her neighbors to transform an empty lot in Corryville into a neighborhood gathering place. Long gone, the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute sits in its place. When living on the Chincoteague Island Naval Air Base, Mary Anne joined the Enlisted Men’s Wives Club – rising quickly to President. In Cincinnati, she organized St. Ann’s 500 Card Club, mission drives, the festival bingo, and taught CCD. A part of the inaugural Ladies Auxiliary at Providence Hospital, Mary Anne enjoyed working at the hospital gift shop first in Mt. Airy and later at Mercy West. She was involved in her daughters’ activities at every level at Sacred Heart Academy and the Summit Country Day School. Mary Anne found the time to organize reunions for the St. George Class of 1945 and Our Lady of Angels Class of 1949, and maintained friendships from her school days until the end. If Mary Anne saw a need, she stepped up without hesitation and filled it to the nth degree. Her outreach even led her to embark on letter-writing ventures whether it was letters to the editor through the years or an ongoing correspondence with Cincinnati Metro when bus routes were being altered. 

Mary Anne’s true passions were travel and her undying love of her Irish culture. She regaled family and friends with stories of her trips to 49 of 50 states and extensive travel to almost all of Europe. Most treasured were her more than 25 journeys to the Emerald Isle of Ireland. She felt one with the rugged beauty of the west of Ireland, the homeland of her O’Hara and Gibbons family. Always remembering her ancestors, Mary Anne erected markers for her Irish great-grandparents at Turlough Cemetery, Co. Mayo. She also honored her Horst great-grandparents in the same way at Vine Street Hill Cemetery in Cincinnati.

 Starting in the 1980s and continuing through her passing, Mary Anne embraced all that was Irish. She contributed countless hours and energy to support the work of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in Ohio. She was first a member of the St. Brigid Division in Hamilton County and later the Ohio State President – holding every position at both the division and state levels. When the St. Brigid Division disbanded, Mary Anne joined the Franklin County Countess de Markievicz Division #1 and was nominated by the division and was awarded LAOH Lifetime Membership. She also enrolled Allison in Irish dance classes which led to even more volunteering. Mary Anne was beyond proud of her involvement as one of the founding members of both the Cincinnati Feis and Queen City Feis (local Irish dance competitions). She loved being a part of the activities at the Erickson Academy of Irish Dance (her daughter’s dance school). Besides traveling to support her many grandchildren who danced and now great-granddaughters, she developed a network of Irish dance friends across the country and held these relationships close to her heart. Anyone lucky enough to know Mary Anne heard about Irish dancing at least once (if not more) in a conversation, letter, or phone call.

Until suffering a massive stroke the week of Thanksgiving, Mary Anne lived in her College Hill home independently and cherished her neighborhood and her independence. She passed away at the age of 93 on January 17, 2025. Mary Anne’s daughters mourn her loss and will forever be in awe of her indomitable spirit. While only just five feet tall, she was larger than life. Her family is grateful for the professional, compassionate medical care she received at both University Hospital and Marjorie P. Lee. Until we meet again, may God hold her in the palm of his hand. 

Mary Anne is preceded in death by her beloved husband William Weber, loving parents William Anthony Horst, Sr. and Anna Catherine Tabeling, her dear siblings William A. Horst, Jr., Carl W. Horst, Patricia J. Horst, Michael A. Horst, and her grandparents William Horst & Mary O’Hara, and John Herman Tabeling & Anna Elizabeth Bankemper. 

Mary Anne leaves a beautiful legacy and is survived by her daughters, Marilyn (George) Stegeman Jr., Deborah (Jerry) Reinstatler, Allison (Dick) Erickson, her dear grandchildren Karyn Stegeman, John (Kelli) Stegeman, Rachel (Matt) Vultaggio, Mary (J.C.) Helsinger, Billy (Sara) Reinstatler, Ellie Reinstatler, Joey (Andrea) Reinstatler, Zach Reinstatler, Adam Erickson, Ryan (Brittany) Erickson, and Anna Erickson (fiancé Andy Batchelder), her sweet great-grandchildren Jacob, Nathan, Benny & Sammy Stegeman, Ava, Aubrey & Collin Vultaggio, Emma & Ollie Helsinger, Patrick, Teresa, Hannah, Michael, Andrew, Claire, Brigid, Margaret, Peter, & Mary Reinstatler, Charlie, Agnes & Beatrix Reinstatler, and Roger Erickson. Also survived by sisters-in-law Judy Clapp Horst Hern (Jack Hern), Marien Doherty Horst, Betty Weber Nash, Rose Weber Pavone, & Janet Weber Smith as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation Friday, January 31, 4:00pm - 7:00pm at Hodapp Funeral Home, 6041 Hamilton Ave., 45224. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, February 1, 10:00am at St. Stephen Church, 3804 Eastern Ave., 45226. Burial immediately following at St. Joseph New Cemetery. Reception at the Irish Heritage Center, 3905 Eastern Ave., 45226.

* Overflow parking for the church will be available at the Irish Heritage Center, 3905 Eastern Ave., 45226 *

Please consider donations in Mary Anne’s memory to Corryville Catholic School, 108 Calhoun St., Cincinnati, OH 45219 OR Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, 699 E. Columbia Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45215.