This effort has been dedicated in honor of Mary Jane’s public service and dedication to the community of Wareham as library director for 25 years and as a member of the Board of Selectmen. Dick Wheeler will be paddling with Mary Jane’s name afixed to both sides of his kayak.
From the Standard TImes : [Click here]
From the Wareham Courier: [Click here]
From the Eulogy delivered By Susan Pizzolato:
Mary Jane began her life on a farm in Iowa, a member of a hardworking and loving family. Her parents modeled a strong work ethic, and valued education. Mary Jane and her sister Margery and two brothers Wayne and Jerry eventually all pursued their education and became professionals. I am sure her parents would be so proud of the career she made here and the loving family she raised with her husband Charles. Some of her family, Margery and her brother in law Roger, are here today and I know you join me in paying our respects to them.
Mary Jane was also a devoted wife and mother, loving mother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt and grandmother. Her husband Charles was her steadfast partner, and to him, a best friend. Charles, you and Mary Jane made a rich and full life together. We are so sorry for your profound loss.
She loved and appreciated her sons Charlie and Matthew beyond words. She believed they were the perfect sons and they were also devoted to her. Charlie, she depended on you and loved you dearly and was so proud of you and your family. Matthew, so special to her, she always believed in you, and cherished your intelligence, wit, and loving nature. I know how much you will both miss her.
In Cara, Charlie’s wife, she found a loving daughter. Their relationship was so special to them both, and Cara, you provided Mary Jane the love, care and support that only a daughter could offer. My heart goes out to you.
As a grandmother, Mary Jane found a new career. She loved Alyson, Johnny and Joey with all her heart from their very first days together. There was no one else in the room when one of the boys needed to sit on her lap or Alyson wanted to share one of her drawings with MJ. Mary Jane loved that Alyson has a talent for art, since she herself was a talented artist, as is her niece Christine.
With the birth of Mariah to Cara and Charlie seven weeks ago, Mary Jane was flooded with joy. It’s wonderful to see photographs of her holding her new granddaughter and sharing in these happy first days of Mariah’s life. All the family has been lifted by Mariah’s birth, and there will be no doubt that she will enjoy many stories of her grandmother as she grows up. To be holding Mariah at Mary Jane’s bedside recently brings home what life is all about, its sorrow and its glory.
Thank you to all Mary Jane’s family –from Iowa and from home here—for sharing someone very remarkable. She held many of us close to her and gave much to public service, but you all were always first and foremost in her heart.
Thankfully, on June 22, at Mary Jane’s retirement reception, she was able to hear in person how many of us felt about her and we could honor her accomplishments. Over 200 gathered at the library for the dedication of the courtyard and so that we could express our appreciation to her for all she has given to the citizens of Wareham. She was so touched by the event, and I am sure we were all moved by her words to us that day. She saw in us a community that is still hopeful and made up of caring people who want a good quality of life and strong relationships. These were her values.
Her legacy is a library that is an institution of equal access to education, information and culture. It represents a love of reading and the freedom and power that it brings. Yes, I said it: power–in the very best sense, so each individual may thrive and explore her mind and heart and go out into the world with confidence and ability. That is what her library career of service was all about.
Please allow me to say a few words about our friendship because you will all recognize in these comments some aspect of your relationship with Mary Jane. When you were in her company and you had her attention, she listened so actively–your concerns were her concerns, your fears were hers to calm, your pleasure, pride and joy were hers to share. If your family member was hurting, she hurt for you, when you stumbled, she understood and offered her hand, when you achieved, she beamed. If she could do something to help, she quietly did just that. Everyone felt each of us was special to her because each one of us was. That was her true talent: you felt that you mattered and were cared about, no matter whether you were a son, a colleague, a close friend, or a citizen. Without an active ego or self focused mission, she was one of the most selfless persons I have ever known.
My son who lives far away said to me yesterday about Mary Jane: No one was ever as consistently kind to me. She was a star, Mom. That’s how she was with young people.
Mary Jane was a show of strength, stoicism, and professional grace. She was determined, calm and reasonable. She was fair and nonjudgmental. She was tolerant and very patient.
She was also wild, irreverent and full of fun. She loved great wit and had a hearty laugh. Her sense of adventure took us on our road trips that were sometimes spontaneous and far afield. Our infamous bookmobile trip is one example. Another was when our girl gang took off for Old Town, Virginia. She loved getting away and relaxing from her public self. I am sure her first friends in Wareham, such as her good neighbor Pat Cullen can attest to this playful and sometimes puckish side of Mary Jane.
What I will remember most: a brilliant complex woman who balanced utmost grace with humor, who possessed great dignity but did not take herself too seriously, and one who had an appreciation of our humanity with an appropriate intolerance for cruelty. She had a huge heart for the little guy. She was bold when it was required, yet she was also truly humble. She was the consummate problem solver. She set an example for how to maintain courage in the face of relentless difficulty and to prioritize the struggles of others.
If you were a friend, she always had your back. If you were family, you had her generous heart.
She loved us all, in public and in private, and we loved her in return. That will never change.
Rest in peace, Mary Jane.
Mr. Wheeler, thank you for putting my Mom’s name on your kayak, it was a touching gesture we all appreciated. I was also happy to see you found a picture of her wearing her angel necklace, which was one of her favorites. Take care, Matt Pillsbury.
By: Matt Pillsbury on October 14, 2008
at 3:47 pm