Mary Jane Green, age 87 - a longtime resident of Elwood, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2016 at Community Parkview Care Center in Elwood surrounded by her family following a relatively brief illness. She was born November 5, 1928 in Gary, the daughter of James Michael and Edna M. (Brady) Ward. She attended St. Joseph School and was later a 1946 graduate of Elwood High School. Mary Jane married her high school sweetheart, James Edward Green, on July 3, 1948, and they shared 49 years of marriage together. She was a homemaker all of her life and a devoted member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church. She was a charter member of the Saint Monica Study Club; a member of the Altar and Rosary Society; a member of the National Council of Catholic Women; treasurer of the Alumni Association for the Class of 1946; and a dedicated volunteer at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital beginning in 1972. Mary Jane was very proud of her Irish heritage. She enjoyed playing Bridge, and was active in a community Bridge Card Club. She also enjoyed reading and listening to music. She will especially be remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother and as an outstanding role model.

Her family includes 2 sons, Michael (wife Joyce) Green of Elwood and Patrick (wife Angela) Green of Elwood; daughter, Joanne (husband Rob) Amick of Frankton; 5 grandchildren, Andrea (husband Brian) Ballinger, Brian Green, Miranda Green, Alex Amick, and Evan Amick; 2 step-grandchildren, Andrew Walling and Chad (wife Joanna) Walling; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James E. Green who died March 21, 1998; and her sister Rita L. Leavell in 1999.

A funeral mass celebrating Mary Jane's life will be conducted at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood with Father Dan Duff officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery in Elwood. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2 to 8 PM on Friday, March 18, 2016 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood, and will include a Rosary Service at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the St. Joseph Church Building Fund; Elwood Animal Shelter; or Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation all through the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at copherfeslermay.com.