| Mary-Ann Ossman was my hero and this page is dedicated to her memory. | |
|
MARY-ANN OSSMAN 1939-2006 Activist counseled victims of violence | |
|
Mary-Ann Ossman, 66,who escaped from a violent marriage and through her experience, counseled others about abusive relationships, died of cancer Wednesday, April 12, 2006 in her south Toledo home. Ms. Ossman for the last two years was receptionist at the Salvation Army's northwest Ohio area center on North Erie St. in downtown Toledo. With her background in community service, she often was able to direct visitors to agencies for help. "She was very knowledgeable and was very compassionate," said Salvation Army Maj. Clyde D. Jones. She was formerly coodinator of the Hispanic family violence project for Adelante Inc. She helped establish the Save Our Sisters march to support women affected by domestic violence. "Our society is situated in such a way that it is not safe for women." Ms. Ossman told The Blade in 1998. In an interview the next year, she described her own 21-year marriage as a battlefield. She left her husband behind in Puerto Rico and moved in 1985 to Toledo, where her son was a law student. She received the YWCA's Milestones award in 2002 in recognition of her work. In 1999, the Women's Federation of World Peace named her one of its five women of the year. She grew up in Haverstraw, N.Y., and graduated from high school there. She was of Italian and Turkish-Jewish heritage, her daughter Brenda Roca said. But "she considered herself Puerto Rican by heart," her daughter said. Ms. Ossman wrote poetry about her heritage and her life. She read widely abot politics, world cultures, and religion and, years ago, was learning to speak Arabic and Hebrew. "It was like she knew a little bit of everything," her daughter said. Ms. Ossman was a member of El Club Taino Puertoriqueno in Toledo. Surviving are her daughters, Brenda and Zoila Roca; sons, John and Rocco Roca; sisters, Chris and Joan, 13 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. There was no visitation. Services were held Saturday, April 15, 2006 at the Salvation Army's center on North Erie Street. Funeral services were held later that week in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. Arrangements were made by the C. Brown Funeral Home. |
|
|
| Goodbye, my friend. Your light will shine forever in the hearts of everyone your life has touched. | |
 | |