Mary Jane Kotyuk

Mary Jane (O’Neil) Kotyuk, 90, of Benton Harbor, passed away peacefully at home on August 19, 2006. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 555 E. Delaware with Fr. William J. Jacobs, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Benton Harbor. Friends may call from 5-8 P.M. Monday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with the Rosary recited at 7:30 P.M. Memorials may be made to Lake Michigan Catholic Schools or Birthright of St. Joseph. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mary Jane was born January 10, 1916 in Chicago to Daniel Patrick & Mary Ellen (Greene) O’Neill. On January 6, 1940, she married Andrew D. Kotyuk at St. John’s Catholic Church in Benton Harbor. Together they operated the family farm in Benton Township. She enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing, swimming, fishing and dancing. Mary Jane and Andrew belonged to several square and round dance clubs in the Twin Cities and enjoyed exhibition dancing in Indiana and Illinois. Mary Jane was a member of SS John and Bernard Parish. Mary Jane is survived by her husband of 66 years, Andrew; six children-Mary Beth (Mel) Weber of Benton Harbor, Kathleen (Don) Doles of Black Hawk, CO, Sheila (Sam) Pantelleria of Benton Harbor, Andrew (Sarah) Kotyuk of Hemet, CA, Rory Kotyuk of Benton Harbor, Patrice (Nick) Rose of St. Joseph; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; her brother Thomas (Margaret) O’Neill of St. Joseph; and her sister Patricia Keller of Fayetteville, NC. She was preceded in death by her parents Daniel and Mary Ellen O’Neill, and her brothers Daniel and Jack O’Neill