Mary Catherine Hicks

Mary Catherine Hicks, 95, of Topeka, died August 7, 2016 at Homestead of Assisted Living in Auburn.  She was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on October 4, 1920, the daughter of John and Alice (Sandel) Amato.  Mary had worked as an executive secretary for Blue Cross and Blue Shield.  She enjoyed being a part of the Washburn Walkers and AARP.  She was a member of Holy Name.  Mary was a gifted seamstress who enjoyed making clothes for herself, her children and grandchildren and for their dolls.  She was an accomplished dancer who entered and won several dance contests.  Dancing was something she and her husband enjoyed doing together.  Mary was a ruthless poker player as her family could attest to.   Mary loved her grandchildren; Matthew (Kelly) Hostetler, Stacey (Nick) Nyp, Josh Osborn, Joel (Kiley) Hicks, Jessica Harrop, Hannah Hicks and Erin Hicks, great grandchildren Caedmon Hostetler, McKinzy Harrop and Maryn Nyp, and her Danish Foreign Exchange “granddaughter,” Ellen Kellman Fisker.  Mary married Frank Hicks in Culver City, CA on August 29, 1948.  He preceded her in death in 1994.  She was also predeceased by four brothers, S. Joseph, Paul, Frank and Robert Amato, and three sons, Kenneth on June 6, 1980, Timothy on June 22, 1959, and Michael on May 9, 1999.  Survivors include a son, John P. (Kyle) Hicks of Silver Lake, a daughter Patricia (Wayne) Osborn of Topeka, two brothers, Jack and Carl Amato, both of Omaha Nebraska, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.  Mary will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Saturday, August 13th, where the family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.  Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 10:00 a.m.  Interment will follow in­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be given to American Cancer Society and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66603.