Mary Jane Owens

Mary Jane Owens, 87, of Indianapolis, passed away March 11, 2016. A combination of French, Irish and German ancestry, Mary Jane was born March 24, 1928 in Indianapolis in the home of her paternal grandparents. She was the first of seven children born to Joseph and Margaret Rose (Wagner) Brosnan. In 1942 Mary Jane graduated from St. Anthony Elementary School, and on June 3, 1946 she graduated from St. Mary’s Academy. She also attended Indianapolis Business College for one year and Comptometer School, receiving her certificate. She entered the convent of the Sister of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana, joining her sister, Janet. Although she very much enjoyed the peace and tranquility of convent life, she soon realized it was not her vocation. Returning home, she accepted a clerical position with Chevrolet Commercial Body, October, 1952. Mary Jane secured a position as a comptometer operator in the accounting department at Chevrolet, when she met Tom Owens. They were married May 18, 1957 in St Anthony Catholic Church. May Jane continue to work until January 1958, when she became a homemaker, with the ideal of starting a family. She finally gave birth to Richard Daniel on November 5, 1960, followed by Janet Rose, December 18, 1962. . May Jane and Tom became members of St. Pius X Catholic Church when they returned from their honeymoon. Mary Jane was active at St. Pius X School, serving in the library, cafeteria, and on the PTA school board. Both she and Tom were active at Chatard High School, where Mary Jane held several offices, including president of the PTA in 1980 – 1981. She is a past president of the St. Pius X Women’s Club, Toastmistress, Clowes Hall Women’s Committee, and Fatima Retreat League. Guardian Angel Guild, St. Pius Bible Study and Onion Stompers Garden Club. She served as a lector, Eucharistic Minister of the church and also a member of the church funeral choir. May Jane inherited from her parents, a great love and respect for nature and all God’s creation. She enjoyed as a child, hunting, fishing trips. She realized a lifelong dream following Tom’s retirement, when they traveled extensively, the western part of the United States. They also were privileged to vacation in Alaska, and in September of 1995 they flew to England took a train to Paris and returned to the United States on the Queen Elizabeth II. During her childhood, Mary Jane developed a great love and appreciation of music. While still a small child, she received piano lessons from her Aunt Esther. She continued piano lessons at St. Mary’s where she also received voice and base fiddle instructions. Mary Jane played in the school orchestra and sang with a choral group. A product of the “Big Band era”, she loves to dance to this wonderful music. She very much enjoyed musicals and operettas. As a child Mary Jane was quite shy, however she now considers herself an extrovert. This miraculous change is probable due to her ITC training. She loved people, and her close friends, especially Bible Study and Garden Club, she considers an extension of her family. Motherhood and becoming a grandmother have been the greatest experiences of her life. She is extremely thankful for the close and special relationship with Rick and Janet, and enjoys a marvelously unique relationship with Scott and Sue. Mary Jane was an avid reader, and especially enjoys historical books, biographies and autobiographies. She loves to write, and compiling vacation memorabilia into scrap books. Not only did Mary Jane adore her immediate family, but she enjoyed an extremely close relationship with her sisters and brothers. Mary Jane is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years Thomas Albert Owens, her sister Sister Janet Brosnan OSF She is survived by her children Richard (Susan) Owens, Janet (Scott) McNabb, sisters Joanne Hutchinson, Marge Rieser, Donna Monahan, brothers Dan Brosnan, Joe (Becky) Brosnan and 5 grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Thursday, March 17 at St. Pius X Catholic Church and Friday March 16 from 10 to 11 am at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 am on Friday, March 18 at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Entombment will be Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. Contribution may be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church, Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House or Sister of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana. Tributes maybe made at www.feeneyhornakkeystone.com