DENVER — Maryann Tucker has been playing the organ at Berkeley Baptist Church for the past 72 years. But now, at 92, she's finally hanging her hat on a remarkable career.
She started with the piano, learning when she was 7 years old. In the 85 years since, music has been there to mark the big moments in her life. The joy of playing has been strengthened with every song.
"I love to play the organ, I do," she said. "I'll miss that a lot."
"But it was the drive basically," she said. "It took me 30 minutes to drive and I just wasn't comfortable doing that anymore."
On Easter Sunday, her children, their spouses, and friends and neighbors all came out to hear Maryann play her final service. Daughter-in-law Aileen Tucker was by her side.
Aileen has been going to the church since she was a kid, and listened to Marianne play her whole life.
"She was my piano teacher for a couple of years," Aileen said. "She's the only person that I know who has ever played the organ here."
It's hard to imagine the church without her.
"It’s bittersweet that she’s decided not to play anymore. But we understand her decision," Aileen said. "It'll be very strange coming here and her not being sitting on that bench."
Though, that bench has changed over the years.
"And I wore out -- well, I'm on the third organ bench," Maryann said. "But this is the third organ."
Seven decades after first sitting down to play, Maryann sat down for her final performance. With every note, every crescendo, her playing sang. As the music faded back, the congregation rushed forward to congratulate Maryann and wish her well.
"I just enjoyed it. I really enjoyed it," she said of her final service.
This song now finished, she's ready to start the next. And for the first time in a long time, she's unsure of what next Sunday will hold. But, she said, she's happy to end her musical career here on a high note.
"I don't know. One day at a time," she said.
More 9NEWS Storytellers:
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Storytellers