Mary Jane Matousek

In Loving Memory of MARY JANE “MJ”

Mary Jane Matousek, 90, (yes, mom, we are putting your age in — you earned every one of those years), of Rotterdam, passed away on September 15, 2026.

Born in Schenectady to the late John and Constance (Leone) Scirocco, MJ was “sunshine” in human form. She was spontaneous, kind-hearted, and always ready with a loving and mischievous smile. She graduated from Mont Pleasant HS, where she was a good student, cheerleader, and all-around social butterfly. Her friends shared that she was the popular girl that everyone wanted to be like.

MJ worked for GE for several years, and held a few other positions, before finding her true calling helping others in recovery at SPARC Guilderland. She poured her heart into that work for nearly 25 years, offering compassion, humor, great advice, and the kind of love that only she could deliver. Her work career spanned 78 years. She loved tennis and was an avid player. She would joke that tennis was her first love even before us kids. LOL. She also liked to tinker on the piano; it was the happy notes that lifted her spirit. She was a determined exerciser, still going to the gym up to 3 times a week. Her exercise through the Silver Sneakers program gave her a community of friends that she cherished. She also loved to dance. She was encased in a happy spirit that was contagious and she always had an unwavering positive attitude.

She is survived by her loving, patient, and kind partner of over 24 years, John Manns, of Rotterdam. She was previously married to her high school sweetheart, Richard Matousek, (deceased 2018), with whom she had two kids; her daughter, Catherine (Jim) Tomfohrde of Virginia, and her son, Daniel (Laurie) Matousek of Virginia. She is also survived by her sister, Madeline Chirico of Schenectady, and her beloved granddaughters, Ashley and Katie Matousek, who inherited her sass and generous heart. She also leaves behind loving and very special nieces, Diana, Mia, Michele, Marisa, Terri, and Gina, many extended family members, and dear friends, all of whom loved her with the same passion and energy she showed for life.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Jack (Carol) Scirocco and Peter (Louise) Scirocco.

Mary Jane’s feistiness, strong will, kindness, and irrepressible positive outlook will live on in every memory and laugh shared, and every moment someone decides to dance when no one is watching.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, September 28, 2026, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon, at DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 1605 Helderberg Avenue, Schenectady, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:30 PM, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 210 Princetown Road, Schenectady.

Entombment will follow at her final resting place of Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, in the Mary Immaculate Mausoleum, Niskayuna, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation, select “SPARC” (www.givetostpeters.org or call 518-482-4433), or to the City Mission of Schenectady, select Get Involved (www.citymission.com or call 518-346-2275) in her memory. Thank you.