Mary Jane Schaefer

Mary Jane Kelleher (Saleh) Schaefer, 85, of Hamden, departed this life for the next one in paradise on November 5, 2014 after a brief illness. She was born to the late James and Jane Burke Kelleher on August 11, 1929 in Fair Haven, and later grew up in Westville. Mary always said she was blessed to have had two great marriages with two loving husbands, Harold Saleh and Robert Schaefer, who both predeceased her. After graduating from Hillhouse High School, she worked for the U.I. Company until putting her career on hold to raise her family and engage her spare time in volunteer work. After Harold died, she went back to business college to brush up on her skills, and worked at several local business offices, including Chatfield Paper Company and later retiring from Brockway-Smith in North Haven. Mary was a proud member and past president of the Hamden Women's Club. She was also a past member of the Mt. Carmel Art Association, parishioner of Ascension Church, member of the Double Beach Club, Paradise Park and first mate of the "Mary Jane". Mary was always the life of the party and enjoyed all life had to offer: her family, friends, pets, travel, fishing, camping, classic movies, cards, slot machines, swimming, the beach, literature and the performing arts. She also loved Irish music (her heritage), singing, dancing and playing piano. She leaves to cherish her memory her two children: daughter Carolyn (Gerald) Kelly and David Saleh, grandchildren Christopher Migliozzi and Meredith (Bill) Miller, and two great grandchildren Max and Ace Miller who were the joys of her life. She is also survived by two sisters, Clare Ford and Betty D'Amato and sister-in-law Mary Lib Saleh, ,many nieces, nephews and good friends. She was predeceased by her siblings Eileen Schaefer, Rita, Jane & James Kelleher and former son-in-law George Migliozzi. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Hamden Health Care Center, Hamden Housing Authority and her devoted Home Health Aide Annmarie from VNS for their exceptional care and compassion for Mary. The family will greet family and friends Friday evening , Nov. 7, betweeen the hours of 5 and 8 pm at Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Ave., Hamden. A Mass of Christiam Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am Sat. Nov., 8, in the Church of the Ascension, 1050 Dunbar Hill Road, Hamden. Burial will follow in St. Marys Cemetery, Hamden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her memory to Abandoned Animals, 82 Woods Rd., Bethany,CT 06524 or the Recreation Dept. of Hamden Health Care, 1270 Sherman Lane., Hamden, CT 06514. www.siskbrothers.com

Mary Jane Schaefer

August 11, 1929 - November 5, 2014