TRYON, NC - Mary Jane Mason died at home Friday, February 1, 2008 after an eighteen-month struggle with cancer. She was 74 years old.She grew up in Roselle, NJ, the daughters, of John and Nell Hastings. After graduating from Douglass College of Rutgers in 1958, she worked as a schoolteacher and Girl Scout professional before she married Jack Mason in 1960 and moved to Chicago. In 1961, daughter Ellen Beth was born followed by John Hastings Mason in 1962. Two years later, Eric Rogan Mason arrived in Minnesota, the state in which the Mason kids spent most of their primary school years. Mary Jane returned to NJ with her family in 1975 when husband Jack was transferred, moving to Monmouth Beach where they lived for 20 years. When MJ and Jack retired in 1996, they chose Tryon, "the friendliest town in the South" to enjoy the quit life at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western NC. Jack was a horseman and he and MJ were active members in the Tryon Hounds. Mary Jane also made many other friends. She volunteered to deliver "meals on wheels" to needy folks in the countryside. She worked with Outreach Ministries to serve families who required a helping hand. She gave of herself to support many spiritual and material initiatives of her church, St. John the Baptist. And in recent years, MJ greatly enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie of her just-for-fun bridge-playing partners.Mary Jane treasured her children and grandchildren. Daughter, Ellen lives in NYC with her daughter, Natalie. Son, Jack lives in Maplewood, NJ with his wife Jessica and their two little boys, Owen and Eamon. And over in Hong Kong son, Eric and daughter-in-law, Angie are parents to Sophia and Rogan. They will all miss Mom and grandma terribly. During her 48 years married to Jack, Mary Jane was a loyal, happy and supportive wife who made their life together a joy. She is also survived by her two widowed sisters, Anne Rooney of Oceanport, NJ and Eileen Rutter of Centennial, CO.Those whose lives intersected with Mary Jane's admired, respected and frequently loved her. Her husband Jack attempted to describe in his song lyrics what so many of us who knew her felt about this wonderful human being... "Mary Jane, Mary Jane... angels smile at the sound of your name." In her memory, a memorial mass will be held in St. John's Catholic Church, Tryon, NC on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Patrick Winslow officiating (a reception will follow), and also in the Church of the Precious Blood in Monmouth Beach, NJ at a later date.Her ashes will be interred at St. Catherine's RC Mausoleum-Cemetery, Sea Girt, NJ.It was Mary Jane's wish that anyone so inclined would donate to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, NC 28782 since she was so grateful for their help and compassion.
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