Mary Jane Herd

Mary Jane Herd, 88 of Hurley passed away peacefully on June 12, 2024, at Hope West Hospice, Grand Junction Colorado.  She was predeceased by her husband Richard. They were married just shy of 60 years.

Born August 15, 1935 in Atlanta Georgia, she was daughter of the late Joseph and Sarah Medve. She graduated from Saint Ursula's in 1954 and worked as a secretary at IBM in Kingston. After having children she went back to work at George Washington School, first in the library and then in the main office. She worked there until her retirement in 2000.  She enjoyed her work, but her bigger joy came from the friendships she forged with her co-workers.

Mary was an active member of the congregation at St Joseph's Church in Kingston. She volunteered work at the People's Place of Ulster County for many years as well as delivered meals on wheels.

As a child, her family would spend summers on her relative's farm in Esopus, NY. The time she spent with her cousins, aunts and uncles were some of her fondest memories. Her family eventually moved to Kingston full time.

She met the love of her life, Richard (Dick) at a church picnic in Kingston and shortly there after they married in 1962.

Mary Jane was a quintessential "people person". She made time for meaningful conversations with everyone she encountered. Building friendships effortlessly, she cherished each connection dearly. Whether it was playing Mahjong with the ladies on Thursday night, where laughter erupted, dinner with friends, long summer days at William's Lake or traveling to far reaches of the world with family and close friends; visiting Hawaii, Japan, Ireland, Hungry, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Austria, England, the Caribbean and more. Mary Jane's travels with Richard enriched her life and created memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Above all else, Mary Jane was a dedicated wife and mother. Her connection with Richard was a love that knew no bounds. True love stories, as they say, never  end. It was therefore poignant that she reunited with Richard precisely two years after his passing.

Mary Jane is survived by her daughter Teresa Herd and her wife Emily Cox, her son Gregory Herd and his wife Pamela, her 2 granddaughters Jessica Griffin and Jennifer Herd, Great Grandson James Griffin, her brother and sister-in-law Joseph and Mary Ellen Medve and their children, Christopher and Joseph Medve Jr and Lisa Antonovich.

Because of their amazing journey through life together, it is only appropriate that Richard and Mary Jane be laid to rest together.  Calling hours will be on Wednesday June 19, 2024 from 4PM – 7PM at Leahy Funeral Home, 27 Smith Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401.  Funeral services will be held at Saint Joseph's Church in uptown Kingston on Thursday June 20, 2024 at 10AM.  Mary Jane and Richard will be buried beside their parents in Saint Peter's Cemetery in Rosendale.

If you wish to make a donation, please go to https://www.peoplesplace.org/donate/ to donate to the Peoples Place of Ulster County.