Mary Ann (Fridrich) Reiss was born Dec. 30, 1930, in Crete, to Ernest J. and Vlasta (Wanek) Fridrich. She passed away Aug. 7, 2026, at Eventide/Tabitha in Crete at the age of 95 years and 7 months.
Mary Ann attended elementary and high school in Crete and attended Wilber High School her senior year while living with her aunt in Wilber. Upon graduating from high school, she immediately began teaching in country schools around the Crete area. During this time, she met her future husband, Lloyd Reiss, and they were married in 1951.
In 1968, Mary Ann received her Bachelors of Education degree from the University of Nebraska. She taught third grade at Dorchester Public Schools for 20 years before leaving to teach at the Crete Christian School. After retirement, she helped with ESL classes and substitute teaching. Mary Ann and Lloyd helped at the Food Net on Saturday mornings.
Mary Ann and Lloyd also hosted several foreign exchange students over the years and later traveled to their countries to visit. They also traveled across the United States to attend Lloyd's World War II reunions.
Mary Ann is survived by her children, Ernest and Jan Reiss of Beatrice, Dave and Anita Reiss of Crete and Ann Dixon of Omaha. She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law Ken and Marge Fridrich of Omaha. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, in 2016; parents, Ernest and Vlasta Fridrich; father-in-law, Gus Reiss, and mother-in-law, Mary Reiss; brother, Ernest Fridrich, and his wife, Nell, of Camarillo, California; sister, Helen Miller and her husband Ray; sister, Dorothy Beekley and her husband Jack; brother-in-law, Francis Reiss and his wife Barbara; sister-in-law, Janice Underwood and her husband Jim; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be Thursday, Aug. 13, at 1:30 p.m., at Riverside Cemetery in Crete. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery prior to services. A Celebration of Life gathering will immediately follow the graveside services at the Crete Community Center.
Arrangements by Trump Funeral Services in Lincoln.
