Mary Eula Van Ess

Mary Eula Wrany van Ess died peacefully at home on February 13, 2007, at the age of 92. Mary was born in Harrah, Oklahoma, February 8, 1915, daughter of Edward Wenzel and Dott Oliver Wrany. She graduated from Harrah High School, class of 1932. She completed BA and BME Degrees at Central State Teachers College, Edmond, Oklahoma and an MA in Music Education at Columbia University Teachers College, New York City. Major vocal studies were with Frank La Forge in New York City. Mary taught vocal music five years at Central State in Edmond, three years at Grinnell College in Iowa and two years at the American Grammar and High School, Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina. During her teaching career, Mary appeared frequently in voice recitals and as oratorio soloist. She made her debut in a voice recital, accompanied by her fiance?, Thomas William van Ess, in Buenos Aires. She also appeared several times as a soloist with the British-American Mixed Chorus. In April, 1945 Americans and Argentines filled the large Odeon Theater in Buenos Aires to celebrate the end of World War II. The US Ambassador spoke and Mary with accompanist Bill van Ess performed Mozart?s ?Alleluia?. Mary and Bill were married at St. Saviours? Church in Belgrano, B.A., January 18, 1947 and afterwards lived twenty-seven years in New York. Mary was the Placement Director and Vocational Advisor at Juilliard School of Music for sixteen years and Executive Assistant at the Metropolitan Opera National Council for six years. From 1974 until their retirement in 1981, Mary and her husband were Co-Managers of Econo Lodge in Wytheville, Virginia. Mary was a member of the choir at St. John?s Episcopal Church, where her husband, Bill was organist and choir director. She also served as a substitute teacher at Scott Memorial and Spiller Primary Schools during her retirement in Wytheville, Virginia. Mary?s husband died August 9, 1999 at age 79. In the summer of 2006, Mary went to live in Norman, Oklahoma, with her niece, Lynette Wrany, who cared for her until her death. Mary is survived by her sister, Irene Wrany Loban; her nieces, Lynette Wrany, Marcia Wrany Quiroz and Lelia Loban Lee; her nephews, Alan Wrany and Larry Loban; six grand-nieces and grand-nephews and two great-great nieces. Services will be private and are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK.