Lt Col Mary Jane Hillery of Henderson, Nevada, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, April 12, 2024 at age 92.
Lt Colonel Hillery was born in Boston in 1931 to Donata Larato and Porzia Avellis Larato, both from Bari, Italy.
Mary Jane spoke Italian but quickly learned English, Spanish and German. A gifted student, she was promoted from first to third grade and was on the honor roll for all four years at Girls’ High School.
Mary Jane worked at Pan American Airways, where she was always in demand by customers for her linguistic skills and friendly demeanor. There she met Thomas Hillery, a Cambridge, Massachusetts lawyer who became her husband.
Lt Colonel Hillery made history when she became one of the first five female liaison officers of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1976.
Lt Colonel Hillery also became the first woman assigned to the US Special Forces office of the historian.
Lt Colonel Hillery was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal in 1995 by the US Secretary of Defense, presented by Governor William F Weld at a single purpose ceremony at the Massachusetts State House. She was also military-aide-de-camp to the Governor.
Mary spent many years in Sudbury, Massachusetts, where she served as Veterans’ Agent, Memorial Day Parade Chairwoman, editor of the newspaper “The Sudbury Citizen” and host of the television interview show “For the Record.” Lt Col Mary Jane Hillery - YouTube
Mary Jane was listed in forty books of Who’s Who and achieved many awards, nine military medals and was an officer and leader in numerous social and business clubs.
Mary Jane is survived by her son, Thomas Hillery or Henderson, Nevada.
A wake will be held at Palm Mortuary 7600 south Eastern Avenue in Las Vegas on Wednesday, May 8 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Funeral service will be held at St. Francis of Assisi 2300 Sunridge Heights Parkway in Henderson on Thursday, May 9 at 10:00.
Funeral mass will be followed by a procession to Palm Mortuary by procession to Palm Mortuary where Lt Colonel Mary Jane Hillery will be laid to rest with full military honors and a 21 gun salute at about 1:00 pm. Then there will be a celebration of Mary Jane’s inspiring life with a special reception featuring her favorite music performed by professional Vegas entertainers.
While flowers are welcome, Mary Jane’s foundation, the Hillery Charitable Trust, would be grateful to receive donations in her memory. Send to Hillery Charitable Trust, attention: Thomas Hillery, 2309 Shorewood Hills Avenue, Henderson, NV 89052-8763 (Donations tax deductible.) Questions contact Tom at cell/text 617-368-0405.
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