Mary Anne Walke (née Kelly), 85, died peacefully on July 19, 2026, after a long and fruitful life. Born on Oct. 26, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, she spent her childhood in Grand Rapids. Her early years were marked by both the challenges of wartime America and the loss of her sister Janie at a young age. A graduate of St. Stephen School and Marywood Academy, she went on to earn her nursing degree from Marquette University. Driven by a spirit of independence and adventure, she began her nursing career in California. Following a serious automobile accident and recovery, she earned a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Washington. Her professional life combined her dedication to nursing and education, leading to faculty positions at the University of Illinois Chicago and Loyola University, where she mentored generations of nurses.
While living in Chicago, she met Bruno Walke, a science teacher whose intelligence, humor, and eccentric perspective on life quickly won her heart. They married in 1974 and shared 46 years together, building a life centered on faith, family, education, and service to others. In 1975, they settled in Riverside, where they raised their four children and opened their home to family, friends, and guests for the next 50 years.
Mary Anne was the wife of the late Bruno Walke; the mother of Elise (Brian) Murray, Bernhard (Rosa), Peter (Joy), and Mark (Tabaitha); the grandmother of Isabel, Genevieve, Elena, Mason (Brooke), Tegan, and Maxwell; the sister of Michael (Suzanne) Kelly, William (Ginny) Kelly, and Kathleen (Jim) Frank; and the sister-in-law of Richard Berry. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Janie Kelly and Theresa Berry, and by her parents, Gertrude and Joseph Kelly. She will be deeply missed.
Visitation will be held on July 27 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on July 28 at St. Mary Church, 105 Herrick Road, Riverside.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christ the King Jesuit College Prep (www.ctkjesuit.org), Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (www.cristorey.net), or the USA Midwest Jesuits (www.jesuitsmidwest.org).