Mary Jane (Paden) Rossiter Mar 26, 1930 – Dec 29, 2015 Passed away peacefully on December 29, 2015. She was born in South Bend, Indiana on March 26, 1930 and was a 1947 graduate of St. Marys Academy. She graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 1951. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, Tau Kappa Alpha Forensic Society, PanHellenic Association, and the American Association of University Women. She was also an active member of the Speech and Forensics team at Purdue. She met her future husband of 59 years, Robert F. Rossiter, Sr. at the University of Notre Dame, where he was a student. Bob was the lyricist for the Notre Dame Senior Musical and Mary Jane was cast as the lead dancer. Both she and Bob passed their love of music on to their children and grandchildren. Mary Jane and Bob married on January 29, 1955. Mary Jane was a reading tutor at St. Charles Borromeo School in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. She was the Speech and Forensics Coach at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Glen Mills, PA for 15 years. She also founded the Speech Team at St. Wenceslaus School in Omaha, successfully leading her team of students to win numerous tournaments each year. As a Speech Coach and mentor for over 30 years, Mary Jane influenced the lives of hundreds of students. She was also a Eucharistic Minister and Lector at St. Wenceslaus Church. Active in her community throughout her life, Mary Jane also had a love of art and antiques. She was a Docent at Joslyn Museum. She likewise did volunteer work at Brandywine Museum and Brandywine Battlefield while residing in Pennsylvania. She wrote and directed a play celebrating the bi-centennial of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Chester Heights, PA. Mary Jane and Bob loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, Austria, Canada and Rome. Mary Jane was elegant, fun-loving and a truly wonderful person who will be deeply missed. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents, Mabel Paden and Paul V. Paden, Sr.; and her brother, Paul V. Paden, Jr. She is survived by her children: Robert Rossiter (MaryBeth) of Omaha, Sandra Rossiter Lastowka of Pennsylvania, James Rossiter (Kathleen) of Wisconsin and William Rossiter (Susan) of Ohio. She loved all of her 12 grandchildren dearly: Robert III, Andrew, Katherine, Erin, Zachary, Margaret, Mitchell, Mary, Joseph, Samantha, Nicholas and Catherine. She is also survived by two nieces and four nephews. The family will receive friends Friday, January 1st, from 5pm to 7pm, with VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm, all at the West Center Chapel. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL Saturday, January 2nd at 10:30am at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 15353 Pacific. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Wenceslaus Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.
HEAFEY-HOFFMANN DWORAK & CUTLER Mortuaries and Crematories 7805 West Center Road Omaha, Nebraska 68124 (402) 391-3900
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