MaryAnn Margaret "Sissy" Phelps (née Saxon)

MaryAnn Margaret "Sissy" Phelps (née Saxon)

December 31, 1948 - April 30, 2024

MaryAnn Margaret "Sissy" Phelps (née Saxon), age 75, of Brooklyn Park, MN, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at her daughter's home in Minneapolis after a valiant struggle with late-stage systemic Amyloidosis. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, May 8th at Evans Nordby Funeral Home in Brooklyn Center with Rev. Tiffany Sundeen of First Lutheran Church of Fergus Falls officiating.

MaryAnn Margaret Saxon was born on December 31, 1948 in Princeton, Minnesota to Annie Jane (Veal) Saxon and David Edward Saxon. She and her family moved back and forth from Princeton to South Minneapolis through her childhood, but she always considered herself a country girl living in the city. She was united in marriage to Walter Boyd Phelps on September 25, 1971 at a Lutheran Church in North Minneapolis. A son, Walter Boyd Phelps, Jr., and a daughter, Marilyn Jayne Phelps, were born to this union. She started working as a postal clerk once her children had started school.

Sissy loved her family and they were the focus of her life. She raised her grandson from the age of 6 weeks and continued to care for him through her life and was also the caregiver for her granddaughters for 10 years. She enjoyed visiting relatives, garage saleing and thrifting, and attending her grandson's sporting events and Special Olympics activities. She was proud of her Ojibwe heritage, the traditions learned from her grandmother Mary Thomas Veal and a proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa in Michigan. She loved showing her grandchildren their Native American heritage, bringing them to powwows, drum and dance classes, and Osseo Public Schools Indian education events for the last several decades. She will fondly be remembered as a devoted mother and grandmother, her kindness extending beyond her family. Many of the OMGAA Special Olympics participants simply call her "Grandma" to this day. Mary Ann's unconditional love and selflessness touched the lives of many, leaving a lasting impact on all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Preceded in death by her mother, father, two half siblings, Sandy and Lewis Saxon, special grandmother Mary, and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. Survived by her husband of 52 years, Walt; son, Walter, Jr. of Coon Rapids; daughter, Marilyn of Fergus Falls and Minneapolis; step-daughter Caron (Dave) Watzke of Las Vegas; grandson, Joel Phelps of Brooklyn Park; granddaughter, Madelyne Phelps of Morris and Annie Phelps of Fergus Falls; great granddaughter, Maya Phelps of Fergus Falls; sister, Marilyn Iverson (née Saxon) of Northfield; half siblings, David, Jr., Ronald, Loren, Elaine, Dyan, Shirley, Phyllis, and Evelyn Saxon, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, many cousins and friends.

Service 11 AM Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at Evans-Nordby Funeral Home, 6000 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center, with visitation prior to service 10-11 AM. Luncheon after the service followed by 2:30pm Graveside Service in Princeton, MN at Oak Knoll Cemetery officiated by Pastor Tiffany Sundeen.