Mary "Jane" (Curry) Maurich
January 27, 1927 - May 2, 2023
Obituary
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend ~ Jane Maurich passed away at her Wesley Terrace home in Des Moines, Washington on May 2, 2023 at the age of 96. Jane was born on January 27, 1927 in New London, Ohio to Charles Deward and Myrl Victoria (Shelly) Curry. She gracefully endured pulmonary hypertension for nearly three decades.
As a member of the Class of 1945, Jane graduated from Upper Sandusky High School in rural Ohio. She spent the next four years at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green Ohio, graduating with a BA in Food and Nutrition. During her post-graduate internship at the University of Washington, she fell in love with her life partner, Al Maurich. They were married for 62 years until his death on August 29, 2013.
Jane and Al married July 14, 1951 in Moscow, Idaho where daughters Chris and Marian were born. They returned to Washington when Kathy came along. In 1956, they purchased their first home in SeaTac, where a few years later Nancy and Steve joined the family. They lived in SeaTac for 51 years before moving to Wesley Homes in Des Moines in 2007. They actively and devotedly worshiped at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Tukwila and St. Philomena Catholic Church in Des Moines.
Jane worked hard all her life from the early years on the farm, to growing and arranging flowers at the family greenhouse. She began her professional dietetics career as a food service manager at the University of Idaho. Then, she took a professional break to manage her household and raise five children, which we are certain was quite hard work, too! As the children grew, she returned to full-time food management at Weyerhaeuser Research Lab and later at the University of Washington.
Jane valued life-long learning and enjoyed reading, singing, traveling with Al, playing bridge and other games, spending time with family, and going to lunch and having a ‘grand old time’ with her friends. Throughout the years, she volunteered with many organizations, including her church, Pregnancy Aid, the American Legion Auxiliary, and at Wesley Homes. Jane was a special lady who had many special relationships.
Jane is Mom to Chris Maurich (Gregor Harrison), Marian (Bill) Joslin, Kathy (Gailen) Steichen, Nancy (Robert) Benoit, and Steve Maurich; Grandma to Matthew, Heather, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Parker, Lorah, and Lane; great-grandma to Lilly, Xander, Isaac and Vivienne; and sister to Polly Baker and June Conine. Her parents, husband Al, daughter Marian, and brother Chuck Curry preceded her in death.
Funeral mass on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, 10:00 a.m. at the Wesley Gardens Chapel, 815 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington. Reception and graveside services to follow. In lieu of flowers, please give to the charity of your choice.