Mary Jane Radcliffe Stavinoha

Funeral services for Mary Jane Radcliffe Stavinoha, 76, of Richmond, will be held Thursday, September 18, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Richmond. Father Howard Drabek will celebrate the Mass. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Rosenberg. Deacon Don Ries will conduct a Rosary Service on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Greenlawn Memorial Park Chapel. Mary Jane "Mar" Radcliffe was born October 5, 1931 in St.Mary's Hospital in Orange, New Jersey to Robert and Terese Radcliffe. She passed away September 14, 2008 at the Memorial-Hermann Sugar Land Hospital following a lengthy illness. She lived a life devoted to her faith and her family. Mary Jane graduated Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J. and received her A.A. in 1951 from Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J. While at Centenary, she was a part of the Centenary Singers and performed in some of the top venues on the East Coast, including New York's famed Carnegie Hall. In 1952 her future brother-in-law Rob Hartmann set Mar up on a blind date with a tall, lanky young FBI agent from Texas named Jodie, and she always claims she knew this would be the man she married by the end of their first date. On June 19, 1954, she and Jodie did marry at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Bay Head, New Jersey. The couple soon moved to Washington, D.C. where he was stationed as a Special Agent for the FBI. Mar and Jodie had six children during their 20-year stay in the Washington, D.C. area, and she often exclaimed the greatest joy she ever experienced was that of raising a family, then later watching and helping as her six grandchildren came into this world. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 45 years, Jodie E. Stavinoha; her parents Robert L. and Terese M. Kane Radcliffe; and her sister Dorothy Dar Radcliffe Hartmann. She is survived by daughter Tece Stavinoha Stark and husband Jim of Pleak; sons John R. Stavinoha of Richmond; Ted J. Stavinoha of Richmond; Jamie Stavinoha of Richmond; Peter L. Stavinoha and wife Kim of Richardson; and Dan Stavinoha and wife Dede of Richmond; grandchildren Brian T. Stark of Pleak; Meghan Stark Steinhaus and husband Gary of Westerly, Rhode Island; Katie Stark Flores and husband Chris of Pearland; Patrick J. Stark of Pleak; Danny Stark of Pleak; and Joseph Stavinoha of Richardson; great grandchildren Lillian Steinhaus of Westerly, R.I.; Adeline Steinhaus of Westerly, R.I.; and Ava Flores of Pearland; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends, both near and far. Pallbearers will be Mary Jane's sons John, Ted, Jamie, Pete and Dan; grandson Brian Stark; and nephew Robbie Hartmann of California. Honorary Pallbearers are Joe Macekura of Arlington, Virginia.; Evan Radcliffe of Tampa, Florida; Dick Radcliffe of Venice, Fla.; and Phyllis Jones of Crabb. Mary Jane was a selfless, giving individual who always put the needs of others above her own. Therefore, she would be happy to know that in leau of flowers, memorial donations were sent in her name to one of the following: Helping Hands of Rosenberg-Richmond; The Sacred Heart Catholic Church Building Fund in Richmond; or to the Student Scholarship Fund, Centenary College, Hackettstown, N.J. 07840.

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Mary Jane Radcliffe Stavinoha

October 5, 1931 - September 14, 2008