Mary Ann Wiggs

Mary Ann Wiggs, 87, Atchison, Kansas, died Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Atchison Senior Village.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Benedict Church with Rev. Jeremy Heppler, OSB, as celebrant. A parish rosary will be recited on Thursday, April 11th at 9:30 A.M. at the church, with visitation to follow. Interment with her husband will be at a later date at Holy Cross Cemetery in Indianapolis, IN. Memorials are suggested to St. Benedict's Abbey ( https://www.kansasmonks.org/donate )  or St. Benedict Catholic School and may be left in care of the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home.

Mary Ann was born December 8, 1936, in Indianapolis, Indiana, adopted at age 3 by Charles J. and Mary Helen (Hurst) Bearnard. She attended St. Mary's Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana University and Sisters of Charity Nursing School. Mary Ann served many years as a registered nurse.

She and James W. Wiggs, Jr., MD, were married June 18, 1960, in Indianapolis, IN.  They shared 42 years of marriage. Mr. Wiggs preceded her in death on June 7, 2003.

Mary Ann was very strong in her faith and active in St. Benedict Church, as a former lector and Eucharistic Minister, as well as a pianist, accompanist, and singer. She was a member of the Secular Franciscan Order, a lifelong contemplative, and lover of animals and the natural world in its beautiful entirety.  She was a woman of inexhaustible generosity, exuberant joyfulness, faithful friendship, and quiet reverence -- a precious example of faith, love and fidelity to her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include two sons, John (Carol) Lahey-Wiggs, Saskatoon, Canada, Adam (Anita) Buhman-Wiggs, Atchison, KS, a daughter, Chala (Thomas) Wiggs-Lechner, Watertown, SD, seven grandchildren, Ian Buhman-Wiggs, Emma Rose Buhman-Wiggs, James Buhman-Wiggs, Anna Buhman-Wiggs, Michael Lahey-Wiggs, Stephen Lechner, and David Lechner, as well as two in-law grandchildren, Allyson Vanderwal and William Lechner.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a son, James Kevin Wiggs.