On Monday, July 24, at 10 AM, St. Michael 's will celebrate the life of Mary Jane Eldridge.



Mary Jane was a long time and active member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish. She and her husband came to the area from Colorado in 1951 and moved into St. Michael's Parish in 1961. Mary Jane lived a life of service. She cleaned the church, and she washed the church linens and the albs. She cooked meals when required for parish functions. When attending daily Mass, she was also a lector and eucharistic minister. In short, she could always be counted on to help when help was needed.

On a social level, she enjoyed lunching with parishioners of her generation, playing bridge, and dabbling at playing tennis (more exercise than talent). She also served outside the parish as a docent at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

She always had family around - children, grandchilden, great grands, and nieces. She loved to cook and clean and was a bit fanatical about it. When her children were attending St. Michael's school, she was even a room mother.

As long-term Prefect of the Sodality, she was active in bake sales (her banana bread was legendary) and bazaars. She helped in any way that she could, but loved most to be in the background and not in the limelight.