Mary Ann Paloncy passed away peacefully on July 15th 2026 at the age of 90.

Daughter to Ann and Russell Woodall, she was raised in Oakwood by her mother and they enjoyed lots of international travel together.

A lifelong Oakwood resident she graduated from Oakwood High School and went on to attend and graduate from Ohio University where she met and married Elmer Paloncy. Together they had 2 sons, Robert and James. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority which led to her involvement with many women’s groups throughout her life.

She spent her entire 35 year career as head of Children’s Services for the state of Ohio and saved many children from neglect and abuse.

Besides her greatest love, her family, she truly enjoyed cooking, travel, reading, crafts and engaging with people at a very personal level. But her true passion since childhood was flower arranging and gardening. So much so that when she retired, she worked part time in the floral department of Dorthy Lane Market.

Animal were always a huge part of her life, and her kind and generous heart couldn’t ignore any animals in need. To the extent that she’d rescue dogs from the side of the road and give them a home.

From the age of 16 until about 80 she and her family made a yearly pilgrimage to Cape Cod and Provincetown where she loved the beauty of the sea, the gardens, and the local artists.

A woman of strong faith, she was dedicated to her church First Babtist Church but enjoyed worshiping at several local congregations.

Her final years were spent at The Laurels of Kettering where she was the social butterfly and unofficial Mayor of the facility, greeting guests and checking on all aspects of operations.

In those last years when she struggled with her words, she would just say “I love you!”

Preceded in death by her parents Russell and Ann, and her husband Elmer. She is survived by her sons Robert & James (Marianne).

The family would like to extend their thanks to staff at the Laurels who truly treated her like family and to the team at Crossroads Hospice for helping her have a peaceful transition.

Donations can be made to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. But any animal rescue would make her happy.