Mary Jane Juarez passed away at home in Galveston, Texas on Friday, February 27, 2015. She was 83 years of age.

Mary Jane was born on May 5, 1931 in Flushing, New York to Douglas Levitt and Edna Filby Levitt. She went to school in New York and graduated from Great Neck High School in 1949.

On June 6, 1949, Mary Jane married Louis Radzieski, a New York City Firefighter, they had nine children together: Douglas, David, Daniel, Dawn, Drew, Doreen, Dean, Darin and Dale Amanda.

Mary Jane moved to Galveston, Texas, where she went back to school and became a registered nurse. She continued to work until she was 79 years old, providing care in a nursing facility to many patients who were younger but less fortunate than she.

Mary Jane is survived by her brother, Douglas Levitt of Dresden, Maine, her children Douglas & Lynn Radz, David & Sandy Radzieski, Daniel & Debbie Radzieski, Dawn (Radzieski) & Ronny Palm, Drew & Gabi Radzieski, Doreen Radzieski Hudson, Darin & Lesley Radzieski, 19 grandchildren including Mary Janel Radzieski, to whom she was especially close, and 21 great-grandchildren including her great grandson Julian Dominic Radzieski who she always called her “Heartbeat”.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Dale Amanda Radzieski and her son, Dean Paul Radzieski.

Mary Jane was a lifelong knitter, an avid reader and a plant lover. Her love for dogs bordered on insanity. She leaves behind her beloved dog, Shaughnessy.

Her friends are many and scattered across the world. She had a love for life and lived life to the fullest on her terms. She had the patience of a saint, a dry sense of humor and was always ready to laugh. She was a nurturer and when she lost two of her younger children her strength and faith enabled her to bear the grief and offer support to her other children.

Her loss leaves a giant hole in the hearts of the people who loved and knew her.

Mary Jane’s family will receive visitors beginning at 11:00 am, Thursday, March 5th, at Malloy & Son Funeral Home. Funeral service will begin at 1:00 pm at the funeral home with burial following at Galveston Memorial Park in Hitchcock.

Her pallbearers are her sons: Douglas, David, Daniel, Drew, Darin and her son- in-law Ronny.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Mary Jane’s favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.