MaryAnn Gunderson

Dr. MaryAnn Gunderson, 74, passed peacefully in her home on October 9, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. MaryAnn is survived by and was a loving wife to Robert Gunderson; mother to Eric Gunderson (Kaisa) and Kristin Holland (Jarret); grandmother to Tyrus and Coleman Gunderson and Layla, Carolina, and MaryBelle Holland; sister to Peter, Thomas, and James Lusenskas and Jean Higgins; and aunt to many nieces and nephews. MaryAnn was born to Peter and Agnes Lusenskas in Queens, NY in June 1949. She grew up the oldest of five children in Queens Village, NY with a thirst for education, which her father – a first generation American – emphasized as the quickest route to a better life. The day after her 21st birthday, MaryAnn married Robert (Bob) Gunderson. A year later, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Hunter College of the City University of New York. MaryAnn and Bob briefly called Chicago their home before moving to Woodstock, GA, and later Canton, in Cherokee County, where they would reside for the next 49 years. Upon moving to this small community, MaryAnn bucked the traditional gender roles her parents espoused and fought in the mid-1970s for women’s rights and their place in local government. She established herself as a pillar of the Cherokee County community, serving in the Woodstock and Georgia Jaycees from 1978-1986, including as the Jaycees’ first female state president. She tirelessly gave back to her community through numerous volunteer positions, including as a member of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, for which she served as the Education Committee Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of Community Development and on the Board of Directors. She was also a member of the Cherokee County and Georgia Republican Party, serving in multiple leadership positions over the course of 20 years. Forever the positive thinker, MaryAnn served as the Chairperson of the Cherokee 2000 Canton Optimist Club and also a leader of the Cherokee 2000 Steering Committee, helping to prepare Cherokee County for the 21st century. Finally, MaryAnn served as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) for children and youth in Cherokee County over several years – a position that was especially meaningful to her. Most importantly, MaryAnn was a lifelong learner and teacher. She obtained a Master’s degree in Education from Northern Illinois University, a Specialist’s in Education Administration from Georgia State University, and a Doctorate in Education from Nova University in 1993. MaryAnn dedicated 25 years of her career to serving in elementary education positions across Cherokee County. During her career as a school teacher, MaryAnn taught every grade except Kindergarten and 4th. She briefly served as Assistant Principal at Chapman Elementary, and began her career as a Principal in 1990 at Buffington Elementary – a small, rural, and under-resourced school. Subsequently, she opened Bascomb Elementary – the largest and most affluent school in Cherokee County at the time – and served as its Principal from 1995-2000. She served as a member of the Cherokee County Principals’ Association for 12 years and its President for 3 years, as well as the Legislative Chairperson for the 9th District of the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals for 2 years. To bring her career as Principal to an end, MaryAnn served as Principal of the school with the highest poverty rate in Bartow County – Allatoona Elementary – from 2000-2002 and, in just one year, implemented programs that improved student achievement by 25% and significantly increased student and staff attendance. She closed out her career as an educator as a part-time Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University, instructing and sharing best practices and lessons learned with the future generation of teachers. MaryAnn accumulated numerous honors and recognitions throughout her career in education and as a community activist. In 1981, she was named one of Five Outstanding Young Women of Cherokee County, and in 1989, she was one of Five Outstanding Young Georgians. She was recognized by the U.S. Jaycees as Outstanding State President, Local President, District Director and State Vice President. She was also proud for her family to have been named U.S. Jaycees Family of the Year in 1984. Additionally, MaryAnn was named Outstanding CEO in Education in the state of Georgia in 1997 and listed in Who’s Who in Education numerous times. MaryAnn held her religion, family, and friends in the highest regard. She was a longtime member of the Our Lady of La Salette parish in Canton. She was married to her husband for 53 years. She was a caring and doting mother who encouraged her children to strive for excellence and instilled in them independence at a very young age. Finally, as a respected and well-known member of her community, she was a friend to many, including a very special group of women known as the Queens. MaryAnn was a voracious reader and an avid traveler. She visited many countries across the globe and in 2005 even fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling to the country from which her grandparents and ancestors hailed – Lithuania. MaryAnn’s motto, first in campaigns for local office in the 1970s and subsequently throughout her career as an established and successful educator, was “Excellence…and then some.” Derived from lessons she learned along her journey in life, she adopted the motto as banner for herself, her family, and her staff. She claimed, “Only three words separate ordinary folks from extraordinary people. Ordinary people do what’s expected; extraordinary people do what’s expected…and then some.” Dr. MaryAnn Gunderson was an extraordinary person. Visitation will be held at Darby Funeral Home on Friday, October 20th from 6-8 pm, with a remembrance ceremony beginning at 7:15 pm. Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of La Salette Church on Saturday, October 21st at 9 am. For more details, visit Obituaries | Darby Funeral Home - Canton, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Cherokee County CASA in MaryAnn’s memory. The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve the Gunderson family. The Celebration of Life will be live-streamed at: https://vimeo.com/event/3798281

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MaryAnn Gunderson

June 5, 1949 - October 9, 2023