Sister Mary Ann Flax died September 10, 2024, at Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia, KS. She was 86 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 70 years. She was born in Ransom, KS on October 17, 1937 to Godfrey and Catherine Weber Flax, the eighth of 9 children, and was baptized Mary Ann. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, Kansas on September 8, 1953. On March 19, 1954, Mary Ann received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Corona Marie, later returning to her baptismal name.  She pronounced first vows on March 19, 1955 and final vows on March 19, 1958.

Sister Mary Ann received a BA from Marymount College in Latin in 1966 and the MA in religious education in 1973. She taught in schools staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Salina, Aurora, KS and Silver City, NM. Following her teaching career, she served as religious educator in Hoxie, Seguin, Grainfield and Grinnell, KS. She served as coordinator of evangelization and catechesis in Northwestern Colorado from 1970 to 2003. After leaving Colorado she served in Lexington, NE until her retirement in 2023.

Sister Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings. Close family members include cousins Sister Doris Marie Flax, Sister Loretta Clare Flax, and Sister Mary Augustine all of Concordia, KS. Close Niece Martina (Seth) Thomas of Naponee, NE and close great nephew Clifford (Taylor) Massey of Hebron, NE.