Mary Ann (Robbins) Dalessio

Major Mary Ann Dalessio, retired US Army, 91, of Centerville, passed away Monday morning March 18, 2024 at Country Acres following an extended illness.

Mary Ann was born on June 22, 1932 in Titusville, a daughter of the late Kenneth and Mildred Fosburgh Robbins.

She was a graduate of Townville High School, class of 1950 and a graduate of Meadville City Hospital School of Nursing, class of 1953. She had been employed at Meadville Medical Center working for Dr. Richard Jessup and also at Greenville Medical Center.

Mary Ann was a veteran having served in the US Army Nurse Corp. for 20 years as a medical-surgical nurse. She entered the service on July 2, 1967 in Pittsburgh, PA. She attended the officer’s basic course at Ft. Sam Houston, TX. Prior to this, she was assigned to the 12th Evacuation Hospital, 25th infantry division in Caichi, Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. From 1969 to 1971 she was assigned to Walson Army Hospital in Ft. Dix, NJ. She was the head nurse of the ICU/Recovery department. From 1971 to 1973 she was assigned to the 121st Evacuation Hospital in Seoul, Korea as a nursing supervisor. She was reassigned to Walson Army Hospital as head nurse of coronary care from 1974 to 1975. From 1975 to 1983 she was assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where she was the head nurse of the oncology unit and assisted in establishing primary care and head nurse of post anesthesia recovery. From 1983 to 1986 she was assigned to the 574th medical detachment in Stuttgart, West Germany as chief nurse. Finally, from 1986 to 1987 she was assigned to Sitas B. Hays Army Community Hospital at Ft. Ord on Monterey Bay, CA as chief nurse of the family practice center. She was honorably discharged on July 31, 1987 with the rank of major.

While serving in the Army, she obtained many awards including the following; Army Commendation Medal with four Oakleaf Clusters for meritorious service, National Defense and Armed Forces Reserve Medals, Vietnam Service Medal with five campaigns, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Her many accomplishments during her 20 year experience in the Army include the following; Red Cross instructor for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, developed and instructed a CPR program for family members of active duty personnel while assigned in Germany, participated in intravenous program for oncology patients while assigned in Walter Reed Army Medical Center, member of the National Intravenous Therapy Association and served as national secretary in 1977. She was a member of the PA Nurse Association, charter member of the 28th Parallel Nurse Association in Seoul, Korea, and a member of Maryland B.C. Post Anesthesia Nurses Association.

While in the service, she traveled extensively in Europe, England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Italy and France. Her hobbies include an impressive collection of Hummel figurines and crystal figurines. She was a member of the Hummel Society of Collectors. She was an avid golfer, swimmer and bowler.

Mary Ann was a member of the Vietnam Veterans Post 52 of Meadville; the Retired Army Nurses Corp. Association; the Women’s Memorial in Washington, DC; and a life member of the Bruce Shorts Post 5958 VFW.

Mary Ann is survived by a sister, Eva Elliott of Townville; a niece, Dianna Marie Walton and companion John Wright of Centerville; nephews, Dan Kalkbrenner of Pleasantville and Jerry “Booie” Kalkbrenner of Centerville; a great niece, Amelia Walton; great nephews, Roy and Ben Walton, Aaron and Jeff Kalkbrenner; and close friends, Nancy Snow and Pat Moody, both of Centerville.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Gene L. Robbins; sisters, Beth Lingo and Meta Frambaugh; her twin sister, Nancy Kalbrenner; and brothers-in-law, Rodney Frambaugh, Bill Lingo, and Leonard Elliott; a special brother-in-law, Archie Kalkbrenner; and a sister-in-law, Betty Robbins.

Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St. Titusville, PA 16354 on Thursday from 4 to 6 PM and attend the funeral service on Friday at 11:00 AM at the Centerville Baptist Church 18736 Erie Street Centerville, PA 16404 with Charlie Castelluccio officiating.  Full military rites will be conducted by officers and members of the Bruce Shorts Post 5958 VFW.

Interment will be in Sunnyside Cemetery in Centerville.

The family asks that memorials be made to the Bruce Shorts Post 5958 VFW 206 St. John Street Titusville, PA 16354.

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