Marjorie Jane McClure Bielawski

Marjorie Jane McClure Bielawski 96, died October 1, 2021, after a short illness. Born August 16, 1925, in Indianapolis, Jane was the daughter of William L. and Jane Carson McClure. Jane was graduated from Shortridge High School in 1943 and went on to Butler University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. At Butler, she pledged Pi Beta Phi sorority, a commitment to which she held strong her entire life. She was a member of the Army Air Corps Entertainment Committee, while a student at Butler University. During WWII and awhile after, Jane, along with her sisters Ruth and Eleanor and friends Martha Robbins and Marilyn Megorden, would travel across Indiana to Army hospitals and bases to sing and entertain troops. They were dubbed the “Five Queens” by an emcee at their first performance. Working her way through school, Jane was an employee of and Department Head at Sears Roebuck & Co. This is where she met Louis Stanley Bielawski, the man she would later marry in September of 1954. Jane attended night school and in January of 1967, Jane earned her Master of Science degree in Education from Butler University. As she had 5 young children at the time, she said she had to make her studying count for she only had time to read the materials once. Starting in September of 1963, Jane worked on a daily basis for 10 years as a substitute teacher in MSD Pike Township. She had thought being a substitute offered her flexibility, but as she ended up teaching each and every day, she realized it instead just gave her an unpredictable schedule. So, in September of 1973 she began teaching fulltime as an English teacher at Lincoln Middle School. She later became the Chairman of the Language Arts Department. Jane retired from Lincoln in June of 1991. In recognition of her years of service and her passion for education, the Pike Township Alumnus Association named her an Honorary Alumnus on August 12, 2012. Never just a passenger - always a leader and contributor, Jane joined many clubs and organizations throughout her life. In her younger years, she was deeply involved in her neighborhood church, Sutherland Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Choir, a Sunday-school teacher, a Deaconess, a Youth Pastor, and a member of the Sutherland Players putting on plays and performances. She was an active member of local literary clubs, Fortnightly and Catherine Merrill. She became a Cub Scout Den Mother, a drama coach, and a tutor. She was a Board Member of Westchester Estates Recreation Corporation (WERC) for eight years, but served the pool, the swim team, and the community for many, many more years. She was also a WERC Ladies Auxiliary officer many times over. Having married into a Polish family, and being an amazing cook, Jane quickly learned to appreciate Polish foods...well, most of them. She cooked a mean Polish sausage, but never acquired the taste for it! As it was her nature, Jane became heavily involved in the Polish Cultural Society building enduring friendships as well as nurturing family ties from it. Jane was a lifelong learner and was always excited to try new things. After retirement, with her trusty video camera in hand, she rode up, up, and away in a hot air balloon, loving every minute of it and recording it for posterity. All who knew her knew that Jane was a collector. While she loved antiques, what she loved to collect most of all was friends. She lived by the golden rule and always put others first. She thought of their interests ahead of her own. Her friends and her family were her true treasures. She was the consummate host, so it was natural for her to want to gather her friends and family. She was the organizer and the driving force behind many a reunion: Sutherland Reunions, Westchester Reunions, Public School #76 Reunions, Shortridge High School Class Reunions, Annual Retired Pike Township Teachers Luncheons, and beloved Family Reunions. Her house was always the place to be for good food, good conversation, and good company. She was our treasure. Survivors include her sister, Ruth (Frank) Tout; her children, Elizabeth (Daniel) Laskowski, John Bielawski, Julie (Raymond) Rothberger, Joe (Julianna) Bielawski, David (Becky) Bielawski, Susan (Aaron Caudle) Bielawski; her 15 grandchildren, Courtney Tucker, Johnny Bielawski, Meaghan (Ross) Emery, Emily (Matt) Dorlack, Luke Bielawski, Abbey Laskowski, Blaire (Aaron) Schwen, Nick Bielawski, Patrick (Anjulia) Laskowski, Katelyn (Corey) Duggan, Madison (Chris) Hentchel, Anna Bielawski, Kim Bielawski, Natalie (Sean) Matthews, and Dan Laskowski; and her 10 great-grandchildren Ellise, Miles, Joe, Eleanor, Louis, Lincoln, Simon, Otto, Harper, and Evelyn, as well as many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Her husband, Louis Bielawski, predeceased her in 2009. Her brother, William C. McClure died in WWII. Sisters Mary Dunlevy, Elizabeth Shipley, Eleanor Janes and brother Robert B. McClure preceded her in death. Calling will be from 12:00 noon to 3:00pm on Sunday, October 10, 2021, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 3:00pm all held at Crown Hill Funeral Home. Please use the following link to attend online via livestream: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YWMzNjgyZWItZWU3MC00YWQ5LWFhZjAtZTZkN2JmMDlhOTI5%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22b35c5813-169a-4e03-ab7c-841f43d29968%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%228fb0213c-8701-40ee-8aad-3136b72d2215%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&btype=a&role=a Jane put others first even in death. She donated her body to science through the Indiana University Anatomical Education Program and therefore entombment will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Pike Township Educational Foundation or to the Jordan-Rieger Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research. https://pike-ef.org/jane-bielawski-memorial-donations/ Pike Township Educational Foundation 5353 W. 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46268 https://www.purdue.edu/cancer-research/research/support-our-research/jordan-rieger-fund.php Purdue Foundation Gift Processing Jordan Rieger Fund P.O. Box 772401 Detroit, MI 48277-2401