Mary Jane HANAVAN

HANAVAN - Mary Jane
(nee Sullivan)
January 25, 2022. Mary Jane died peacefully at home, under Hospice care, after a recent hospital stay. Beloved wife of the late Lt. William J. Cole, U.S.A.F. of 1943, and former wife of Eugene J. Hanavan, Jr. MD. Loving mother of John P. and Daniel T. of Martha's Vineyard, MA, Michael E. and Eileen M. Hanavan of Buffalo, and the late Sheila M. Hanavan of Iowa City, IA; dearest sister of the late Mrs. Ellen (Elmer) Hammer, the late Timothy Sullivan, and the late Mrs. Patricia (Francis) Griffin. She was the daughter of Timothy and Mary Ellen Sullivan. Mary Jane was born and raised in South Buffalo. She graduated with Honors from South Park High School in 1936, and studied the Classics: Latin and Greek. She was a graduate of State Teachers' College, now Buffalo State, with her Undergraduate and Masters' Degree in Education, with a focus on Primary Education. She began her Student Teaching in a One Room School House in East Aurora. Her first full time job was at Bell Aerospace in Wheatfield as an assistant to the Test Pilots. From here, she began her teaching career: teaching First Grade on Goundry Street in North Tonawanda for ten years. Once her children were older, she returned to teaching First Grade at Buffalo Public School #18, on Hampshire Street, for 25 years; she retired in June 1993. She enjoyed teaching and always thought she would teach a foreign language - and as her student body changed over the years, she did teach English as a Second Language to many students, newly arrived in the Buffalo area from other locations throughout the world. Mary Jane enjoyed the textiles and arts. She studied Costume Design and Draping in the Summer of 1943 in New York City at what is now Fashion Institute of Technology. She continued with her love of clothing design, construction, and draping throughout her life. She was an expert knitter, with her grandmother teaching her at a young age, she enjoyed selecting various patterns to create her unique designs. She made many Fishermen Knit sweaters for her children. In addition, she enjoyed Interior Design. Family and friends may call on Monday from 3-7 PM at DIETRICH FUNERAL HOME, 2480 Kensington Ave., Amherst. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Aloysius Gonzaga, 157 Cleveland Dr., on Tuesday at 9:30 AM. Entombment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Face coverings and social distancing protocols will be in place. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary Jane's memory may be made to the Hospice Foundation of WNY, 225 Como Park Blvd., Buffalo, NY 14227. Online condolences may be offered at www.TheDietrichFuneralHome.com