Mary Ann Hagemeister, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a resident of Arlington, Texas, for 32 years, entered the gates of Heaven on August 31, 2017, in Houston, Texas, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s at the age of 90.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Mary Ann was born on May 1, 1927 to Ivan F. Belknap and Julia Mitchell Belknap. Mary Ann graduated from Redford High School in Detroit and then attended Ohio Wesleyan University, where she joined the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and met her future husband, Hilbert W. (“Dick”) Hagemeister, Jr.
On March 25, 1950, Dick and Mary Ann married and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, while Dick pursued a career in the aerospace industry. As Dick progressed in his career, they moved across the country, first to Dallas, Texas, then to Birmingham, Michigan, and finally in 1980 to Arlington, Texas, all the while raising four children. After Dick’s passing in 1995, Mary Ann continued to live in Arlington before relocating to Houston in 2012.
Mary Ann devoted her life to raising her family with love, patience, perseverance, good humor and wisdom. For 30 years, Mary Ann cared with selfless devotion for her son Gary, born with spina bifida, and encouraged his talents as an artist, wheelchair basketball player, youth baseball coach, and bass fisherman. Mary Ann exemplified all the virtues of motherhood, not only being a wonderful cook and skilled at sewing, needlepoint, calligraphy, and other creative arts, but more importantly, always being there for her family, taking her children to church every Sunday and ensuring they grew up with strong traditional values. Mary Ann’s children and grandchildren will forever cherish joyous memories of all the wonderful holiday celebrations at her home.
Mary Ann relished the simple pleasures of life. Mary Ann enjoyed travelling with her family and friends. She loved to shop and had a keen eye for quality – and a bargain. Relaxing in her contemporary home, Mary Ann delighted in watching songbirds visit her flower garden. However, she was not so fond of the neighborhood squirrels which raided her bird feeder or the tomcats who tried to raid her birds. Not a morning went by where she did not solve the daily crossword or Jumble puzzle. She took special pleasure in watching classic movies later in the day with a cold glass of her favorite wine. Mary Ann adored her grandchildren and never missed a birthday or special occasion as they grew up.
After her children were grown, Mary Ann volunteered at the Medical Center of Arlington where she helped provide compassionate support to patients and staff. In recognition for her service at the Center, she was awarded the 1997 Frist Humanitarian Award “…as someone who has demonstrated unusual concern for the welfare and happiness of patients and has performed extraordinary acts of kindness”. The Center also honored Mary Ann with a prominent position on the Center's float in the City of Arlington’s 1998 Fourth of July parade. Mary Ann was unfailingly kind, polite, modest and caring to all she met. Her quiet love and strength held her family up and kept them going. We loved her beyond measure, will miss her so very much, and look forward to our reunion in Heaven.
Mary Ann is survived by her three children Julie Ann Rifaat of Houston, Texas; Kurt Hagemeister and his wife Elizabeth of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Eric Hagemeister and his wife Teresa of Richardson, Texas; and by her six grandchildren Sarah Rifaat and husband Matthew Glowasky of London, England, Elizabeth Rifaat Salina and husband Tyler Salina of Katy, Texas, Carolyn Hagemeister and Kristen Hagemeister of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Alexander Rifaat of Houston, Texas, and Lt. Anthony Rifaat of Fort Irwin, California. She is also survived by her sister, Judith Belknap, of Henderson, Nevada.
Mary Ann also leaves behind four great-grandchildren: Charlotte Salina and Evelyn Salina of Katy, Texas, and Andrew Glowasky and Alexandra Glowasky of London, England, whose middle name Mary was given in honor of Mary Ann. Greeting Mary Ann in Heaven were her husband Dick, her son Gary, her dog Sable, and her parents.
The family extends heartfelt and grateful thanks to the staff of the Forum at Memorial Woods, who cared so tenderly for Mary Ann, and to the Compassus hospice personnel who provided Mary Ann with comfort and support.
Funeral arrangements will be private, and a celebration of Mary Ann's life will be scheduled at a later date. Donations can be made in Mary Ann’s memory to the Alzheimer's Association or Shriner's Hospital.

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