Mary Jayne Demaso

Mary Jayne DeMaso, 93, a long-time resident of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 20, 2020 at the Maplewood AFC assisted living facility in Eaton Rapids. She is predeceased by her son, Thomas E DeMaso and her parents, Ray and Lillian (Williams) Hocott. Born in Jackson Michigan, Mary's life is best characterized in her own words, "I love to be busy." The oldest daughter of bakery and later floral shop owners, Mary graduated from Battle Creek Central High School and Argubright's Business College in the 1940's. After working briefly with her father in his Eaton Rapids bakery, she married her former husband, the late Senator Harry A DeMaso, and moved to Battle Creek. While Harry served many years in local and state Michigan government, Mary was a devoted homemaker dedicated to raising their two sons. Whether playing catch, taking in a round of golf, being a Cub Scout den mother, volunteering as a PTA room mother, or sitting hours watching her boys play baseball, basketball, or football games, she was always there for her two boys. For Mary, "busy" did not stop with being homemaker. As soon as her boys were old enough, she returned to her family roots in retail working for Bailey Jewelers in downtown Battle Creek for 40 years. It meant rising to the highest ranks in Beta Sigma Phi, a business and career women's sorority, where she developed lifelong friendships and mentored many younger women over decades. Mary found to time to work the Taste of Battle Creek, the World's Longest Breakfast Table, and the Festival of Lights as well as to volunteer at the city's many balloon festivals, where she was able fulfill her lifelong dream to ride a hot air balloon. For years, Mary found time to teach reading to underserved young children in Battle Creek. She became well known as a superb bowler winning enumerable high game awards, often citing with a smile that her trip to Hawaii was paid with winnings from her second place finish in the doubles competition of a statewide bowling tournament. To her family, Mary was a well-known avid card shark whether the game was bridge, gin rummy, crazy eights or, a particular favorite of hers, "H-E-double-toothpicks." As the family members all knew, Mary played to win or as she would say in winning, "Whatever is right." Mary will be lovingly remembered by her son, Dr. David R DeMaso of Boston, MA; her sisters, Sally Brown and Nancy (Ronald) Parsons of Eaton Rapids, MI; her four grandchildren, Christine M DeMaso of Somerville, MA, Jeffrey D DeMaso of Brooklyn, NY, Timothy D DeMaso of Waltham, MA, and Bryan R T DeMaso of Battle Creek; her two great grandchildren, three nephews, and a niece, whom she always held especially dear in her heart. At Mary's request, a private family commemorative gathering will take place at a later time. The family wishes to send a special thank you to all of the staff at Maplewood AFC Inc for their incredible care and compassion. The family also wishes to thank to the Heartland Hospice program for their superb patient centered medical care. Memorial donations may be made to the Heartland Hospice, 865 Cedar St., Mason, MI 48854 or by going to https://heartlandhospicefund.org/donate/.