Mary Ann Valenti

A lifelong resident of Tampa, Mary Ann was born on February 5, 1943 to Sarah Bishop (née Brown) and Francis Irby. She graduated from Hillsborough High School and attended the University of Florida. She married Joseph Valenti in 1972.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, and friend, Mary Ann could always be found going on a daily walk or with a crossword puzzle in hand. She enjoyed her weekly Bible study and Bridge club and never missed a lunch with her girlfriends, “The Magnolias,” Sylvia, Sue, Chloe, and Carla. She liked nothing more than cooking Sunday Italian suppers with as many family members as possible. As good as her cooking was, her family will always remember her baking, especially her cakes, as no one could bake like Mary Ann.

Because she was an only child, Mary Ann was especially close to her cousins, Pete, Tom, Martha Jane, Jodie, Byron, Susan, Janice, Bill, Tommy, Sarah, and Wayne, as well as her Aunt Isabel. Mary Ann also loved spending family time with her husband Joe’s sister- and brother-in-law, Linda and Tommy (Jean) and their children, Mary Lou, Andy, Kim, Lisa, and Debi.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sarah Bishop and Francis Irby; and her daughter Lori Valenti.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband, Joseph Valenti; her children, Micah Mathews (John), Trey House (Tatiana), and Russell Valenti (Allison); her daughter-in-law Darcy House; and her grandchildren, Alexandra Mathews, Michael Mathews, Tyler House (Cara), Trever House, and Jake Valenti.

A funeral is scheduled for 10:30 am on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at South Tampa Fellowship located at 5101 Bayshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33611, with Pastor JJ Johnson officiating. The service will be live streamed at https://stfchurch.com/online/ A reception will follow. Those who attend the celebration of her life are encouraged to wear blue, Mary Ann’s favorite color.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (thewomensalzheimersmovement.org). The family would like to thank Joyce McNair as well as the caregivers at The Estates of Hyde Park for their care and dedication.