Mary Jane grew up in Arlington Heights, Illinois. She married Donald Harper in Park Ridge, Illinois on June 15, 1957 (they had been married 40 years when Don passed away in January 1998). Don and Mary Jane moved to Arvada, Colorado with their children in 1971. They lived in the Wheat Ridge area for the rest of their lives.
Mary Jane was an amazing and creative artist and homemaker. Mary Jane loved to sing; one of her greatest joys was singing Baritone in the Sweet Adeline Edge O’Town Chorus in Chicago, Illinois, and with the St. James Episcopal Church choir in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
Mary Jane entered the workforce when all the kids were in school. She worked as a Church Secretary at St. James Episcopal Church, a Legal Secretary and Paralegal for Wheat Ridge and Denver law firms, then ultimately retired as an Executive Assistant for Wonder Bread in 2002.
Mary Jane is survived by her children Laura/Laurie (Tim) Wirtjes and Anthony (Mary) Harper, and by her brother Edward (Carol) Schumacher. She was predeceased by her husband, Donald Harper; her daughter, Wendy Harper; her parents, Edward and Kathryn Schumacher; her brother Jack Schumacher and sister Rita Schumacher.
Mary Jane’s family would like to thank the staff at Balfour Stapleton Assisted Living/Memory Care Unit as well as the Lutheran Hospital hospice workers who cared for her throughout her stay at Balfour.
A memorial service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 8235 West 44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033 on Friday, July 12, 2019 at 10:00am. A reception in the Parish Hall will immediately follow the service.
Mary Jane will be interred at Crown Hill Cemetery Garden of Memories with her beloved husband, Don, in a private ceremony. Her daughter, Wendy, is also interred there.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Angels with Paws*. Checks can be mailed to 2540 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO 80215-1033, or donations may be made online at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=fC-AtbZAlj9aYmoqX0Pvttv8KH_lcRtcHpIRptQJGGqKSKjP84W5jDzg572PcoNVhvg_Em&country.x=US&locale.x=US
*Angels with Paws (Telephone: (303) 274-2264): Since 2003, Angels with Paws Cat Rescue & Adoption, a Non-profit 501(c)(3) Public Charity. Limited Intake Organization (we do not euthanize to create space, but only when an animal is suffering and there is nothing more we can do) has been serving the greater Metro area and beyond. As space is available, we take in homeless cats (and a few dogs via fosters), many of which are abused, tortured, neglected, and ill and provide humane care and medical treatment. We operate a mostly cage-free Cat Adoption and Rescue Shelter in Lakewood, Colorado. We also help to educate the public by promoting spay/neuter and responsible pet ownership.
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