Mary Ann Catherine Fontana, 76, of Potomac Falls, Virginia, passed away peacefully at her home on September 27, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born on May 12, 1950, in El Salvador to the late Jose and Eleanor Chavez, Mary Ann was the eldest of five children, followed by her siblings Suzi, Joe, Sharon, and Kevin.

Mary Ann married the love of her life, Maurizio, on August 26, 1972, at St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church, Virginia. Together they shared 54 years of marriage and raised three children. They made their home in Potomac Falls in 1993, where they remained for more than three decades.

Mary Ann devoted 33 years of her professional life to serving the United States Air Force at the Pentagon.

However, Mary Ann’s life was defined far more by what she gave than by what she accomplished.

A deeply devoted Catholic, Mary Ann possessed an extraordinary generosity toward others, particularly those who were poor, vulnerable, or in need. She gave freely not only of what she had, but of herself and her time. She volunteered with many charities but one that was close to her heart was the Missionaries of Charity and the Missionaries-Charity Convent, the religious congregation founded by St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), whose life and example she deeply admired. Her devotion to Mother Teresa and St. Padre Pio reflected the faith that guided her throughout her life. She also spent time offering care and assistance to women facing difficult pregnancies.

Music was another great love of Mary Ann’s life. She had a particular passion for sacred music and spent countless years singing in and conducting church choirs throughout the Washington area. Her Catholic community extended far beyond the boundaries of any single parish. Churches were places where Mary Ann worshipped, served, made friendships, and, above all, sang.

Mary Ann will be remembered for an instinctive desire to give to her family, her Church, people in need, and often people she hardly knew. Her faith was not something she reserved for Sundays; it was expressed in the way she lived her life and cared for others.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Maurizio; her children, Michael (Christine), Margherite (Josh), and Matthew (Amy); and her six beloved grandchildren, Michelle, Julia, Nick, Noah, Milo, and Daisy. She is also survived by her siblings, Suzi, Joe, Sharon, and Kevin. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jose and Eleanor.

Mary Ann spent her life giving generously, serving faithfully, and singing God’s praises. Her family takes comfort in the faith by which she lived and in the hope that the voice she shared with so many throughout her life now joins the communion of saints in eternal praise.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Potomac Falls, Virginia. Burial will follow at St. John the Apostle Catholic Cemetery in Leesburg, Virginia.