Mary Jane Copenhaver (née Lalevée) of Millville and North Wildwood, NJ, passed away on February 17, 2023 at the age of 84.  She was predeceased by her beloved husband Ron in 2011, to whom she was married for 50 years.   She was dearly loved by her family and friends.

Her favorite times with family were identifying wild birds, visiting historic sites, exploring mountain trails in the Eastern States, and walking on the beach and boardwalk. She enjoyed the work of helping Ron with renovations of their homes at the bay and  the shore. There was joy in filling the long dining room table with family and friends and favorite recipes.  She truly loved her profession in the Millville Public Schools working with her dedicated staff and serving the students and their families. It was one of the most meaningful and heartfelt efforts of her life.

Born in Elizabeth, NJ, she resided in Millville since 1964, and co-resided in North Wildwood, NJ, since 2004.  She attended the Resurrection School in Philadelphia, PA; St. Catherine School in Elizabeth, NJ; and Hillside High School in Hillside, NJ.  She was a graduate of Montclair State University with her Bachelor's Degree.  She was awarded an academic scholarship for a year of graduate studies at the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras of the University of Madrid, Spain, for her Master's Degree from Montclair State University.  She also attended Glassboro State College and Jersey City State University for an additional 60 credits in post-graduate studies.

Mary Jane was a retired school administrator in the Millville, NJ, School District where she founded and was in charge of the Bilingual and ESL programs that were deemed among the top five programs in New Jersey by the NJ Department of Education/Division of Bilingual Education. She was a pioneer in her field and received awards and recognition from the NJ Department of Education Office of Bilingual Education and Equity Issues for her advocacy and contributions for the rights of students learning English as a new language.  She served two years ('94-'96) as co-chair of the State Advisory Committee on Bilingual Education at the request of the NJ Commissioner of Education. Her work was recognized by the New Jersey State Board of Education and the Cumberland County Human Relations Commission. She was honored as Administrator of the Year in 1991 from the Millville Teachers' Association.  She also served as an assistant principal of the former Western School in Millville.  She had been a member of the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association, American Federation of Administrators, National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the Association of Teachers of English as a Second Language and Bilingual Educators.

She was a member of St. Michael Church in Cedarville for 23 years where she served as coordinator of the Mother of Mercy Prayer Group, facilitator of Bible Study, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, lector of Holy Scripture, member of the parish council, and trustee.  In 2012 she became a member of the Notre Dame de la Mer Parish in the Wildwoods and attended St. Ann Church where she was Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and served Holy Communion to the homebound on the island.

Mary Jane belonged to the Society of New Jersey Artists where she served a term as vice-president.  She served a term on the board of directors of the former Bay Point Rod and Gun Club and was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, District 1, NJ.  As an avid reader, birder, and artist, Mary Jane enjoyed painting the Delaware Bay wetlands, Atlantic shore seascapes, and mountains of New Hampshire. After the journey to the Holy Land, she painted biblical scenes of the New Testament.  Throughout the years Mary Jane gifted her paintings to family and friends here at home and in Ireland and Morocco.

In addition to the year in Spain, she traveled to Canada, Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Italy, Morocco, and Puerto Rico.  She made a pilgrimage with the pastor of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish and parishioners to the sacred and historical sites of Israel.  She received a group blessing at the Vatican from Pope John XXIII in 1959 and from Pope Francis in 2013.  She held dual citizenship with the United States and the Republic of Ireland.

Mary Jane was the daughter of the late Russell and Anne Lalevée of Chatham, MA.  She is survived by daughters Cara, and husband Dennis and grandchildren Sean and Holly; her ever devoted Sue; Rory, and husband Mounir and grandchild Rayan; and Leslie, and husband Lewis and grandchild Daniel.  She is also survived by her sisters Nancy Lalevée, Rosemary Carroll, and Marian Dubovik.  She was predeceased by her brother Russell Lalevée.

Her funeral mass was held at Saint Teresa de Avila Church in Bridgeton, NJ. Burial was at the Cumberland County Veterans' Cemetery in Hopewell, NJ.