Mary Jane Juvan

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Mary J. Juvan on February 13, 2026 at the age of 86. She was a beacon of light in our family, a devoted mother, grandmother, cousin, and blessed friend to many.

A proud first generation Slovenian-American, Mary was born in Brooklyn, New York to Frances Shager (Burgar) and Louis Shager. She lived a life defined by love, kindness, compassion, and total devotion to the family. She was known for her gentle, compassionate heart, for her willingness to help, and ability to stay in the present and enjoy loved ones. She had the knack of making an individual feel special by her ability to truly spend time and listen.

She was a practical mother, always stressing the importance of education. She was most proud of her five children, and devoted her life to them. Each of her five children earned post graduate degrees. She instilled in each of us a great love of reading and took us to the library weekly. I recall smiling broadly, carrying shopping bags full of books from the library. She prided herself on being self-reliant and instilled in her five children to always do your best and not worry about the outcome. Her hobbies included baking with her grandchildren, sewing, knitting, traveling to her children’s homes to assist with holiday cooking and baking, volunteering on the election board in Queens, being a proud member of a senior singing group in Queens, whose goal was to bring joy to individuals in nursing homes, and so much more. Her legacy of generosity will continue through her children and grandchildren.

She could sit for hours playing games, including Scrabble, Rummikub and Monopoly with the grandchildren. She frequently said some of the best times she recalled was waiting for her grandchildren to get off of the school bus.

She was predeceased by her loving brother, Ernest J. Shager, and her parents Frances Shager and Louis Shager. She is survived by her loving children, Frank Juvan, Pennsylvania and his significant other Darla Dunlap, Yolanda Juvan, New York, Mark Juvan and his wife Rosa Tang, New York, Maria Juvan and her husband Peter Battelino, New York, Dr. Luci Juvan and husband Mark Zappone, CT and her grandchildren Elise Juvan, Alexa Juvan, Natalia Zappone, Alec Zappone and Eric Zappone.

My mother made delicious pancakes, roast chicken with potatoes and carrots on Sundays, and banana bread. Her favorite phrase was, “This too shall pass”. A recent piece of advice given to a grandchild was, “Be patient, things will get better”.

She had the knack of making everyone feel special. When we did well in school, she would raise up our hand and say, “Hip, hip hooray” and was our biggest cheerleader. Her greatest superpower was her ability to listen patiently.

My mother completed a year of college at Hunter College and then married. She was a crossing guard in a grammar school in Bushwick, New York and later a postal clerk on 34th St. in Manhattan for 16 years, working the midnight to 9 AM shift. Her goal was to be available during the day for her children.

A mother is the heart of the home and our mother had the most loving patient heart of all. Her legacy is the warmth she left in our hearts.

A Catholic mass will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11 am at Saint Christopher’s Roman Catholic Church in Baldwin, Long Island.