Mary Jane Thurber

March 29, 1934 — July 29, 2024

Mary Jane (Ineson) Thurber, 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 29 th at Centers for Living and Rehabilitation after a short illness. Mary Jane was born on 3/29/34 in Bennington, the daughter of Charles and Macrina Ineson. She grew up in Bennington and graduated from Bennington High School in 1952. She was married to the late Ralph “Pee Wee” Thurber Jr., who pre-deceased her in 1994.

Best known as a great mom and “Gram,” her grandchildren and their offspring were her greatest gifts. She thoughtfully knitted many sweaters, mittens, and leg warmers for family and friends throughout her life. Her love of reading, sewing and mastering the most difficult puzzles took her into the dining room constantly. We could often find her in the kitchen concocting her favorite pot roast or turkey dinner with all of the trimmings. Halloween on the front porch was a tradition that we will never forget.

She and Pee Wee took their travels to Lake St Catherine, Saranac Lake, Myrtle Beach, and camping in Nova Scotia. Mary Jane made her home on Spring Street since 1952, and was one of the neighborhood watchdogs with long time friends Betty White, Mary Pat Reilly and the Pello family. She was an avid skier and loved to snowmobile. In her earlier years she was employed at Vogue and Vanity, Nichols’ Carriage House, and Thurber’s Redemption Center until its closure in 2018.

She is survived by her three children, Chris Thurber, Jim Thurber (Wendy), and Melissa Sheehan (Steve). Also, her grandchildren, Nathan and Russell Thurber, Timothy Goodman (Krystyna), Tera Dicranian (Jason), Ashley Thurber (Alex), Abbie Thurber (Brian), and Tyler Capella (Carrie). She leaves 12 great grandchildren that she adored, her sister, Ruth Early, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was pre-deceased by her daughter Juliana Thurber in 2016, and a special family member, Jonathan Peat in 2017.

The family would like to thank Dr. Wingate and the staffs at CLR and SVMC for their assistance and care.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, August 5 at 11:00 a.m. at Park Lawn Cemetery.

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Graveside Service

Monday, August 5, 2024

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Park Lawn Cemetery

, Bennington, VT 05201

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Mary Jane Thurber

March 29, 1934 — July 29, 2024

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Past Services

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