Obituary of MaryJo A. Montagna

MaryJo A. Mason Montagna, 62, of 3358 Baker St. Ext. Jamestown, passed away at 6:18 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 2014, in W.C.A. Hospital, following a courageous battle with cancer. A lifelong area resident, she was born August 12, 1951 in Jamestown, NY, the daughter of the late Joseph S. and Elizabeth C. "Betty" Careglio Mason. MaryJo was a 1969 graduate of Southwestern Central School and a 1971 graduate of Jamestown Community College. She earned her Bachelor Degree from the State University of New York at Brockport and her Master Degree from State University of New York at Buffalo. She had also attended the State University of New York at Fredonia and Jamestown Business College. Before her retirement in 2010, she was employed by the Jamestown Public School System, for 30 years, as a fifth and sixth grade teacher at Bush Elementary School and Jefferson Middle School. She was baptized at St. James Catholic Church and was currently attending Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Lakewood, NY. She was a past member of the Jamestown Teachers' Association, the New York State Education Association, the New York State United Teachers, the National Education Association and the Southern Chautauqua County Retired Teachers' Association. Surviving are her husband Sebastian "Buzz" Montagna whom she married July 23, 2005, her two brothers, Thomas S. (Nancy) Mason, Samuel J. (Jennifer) Mason both of Jamestown, her nieces and nephews, Lori (Dewey) Varner of Falconer, Michael T. Mason of Frewsburg, Matthew J. (Tina) Mason of Lexington, KY, Jessica M. Mason of Cincinnati, OH, Sondra A. Mason of Rochester, NY, Jeana M. Mason, Samantha E. Mason both of Jamestown and her great nephews, Jacob Varner, Joseph Varner, Thomas Mason, Nicholas Mason and Johnas Mason. She is also survived by her extended family of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins in Italy. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her grandparents, Samuel J. and Josephine Mason, Sr. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Lakewood. Rev. Piotr Zaczynski, pastor will be celebrant. Friends will be received from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home. The family suggests that memorials be made to the W.C.A. Hospital Cancer Treatment Center, P.O. Box 840, Jamestown, NY 14702 or to the Italian American Charity Golf Association for Cancer Research, P.O Box 352, Jamestown, NY 14702.