Mary Jane "Cavanaugh" McDonald

Norcross, Ga. - Mary Jane Cavanaugh McDonald, age 84, of Norcross, Ga., formerly of Wilmington, Del., passed away on December 12, 2013.
Friends and family may visit from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. Helena's Catholic Church, 602 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, Del. on Wednesday, (December 18). Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 a.m. at St. Helena Catholic Church on Thursday morning followed by interment at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield, Penn.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary's memory to your local American Cancer Society.
Mary was born Mary Jane Zappia in Newark, N.Y. in 1929 and was the daughter of Thomas Zappia and Angelica Mittiga. She graduated from Newark High School in June 1947 and from Rochester General Hospital's Nursing School as a Registered Nurse in 1950. Mary worked part time as a Registered Nurse at Rochester General Hospital from 1952 to 1964. She also worked as an RN at various hospitals from 1968 to 1980 including St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh, Penn, Mansfield General Hospital in Mansfield, Ohio and Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, Penn. Mary retired from her career in the medical field as Vice President of Health Services for Independence Blue Cross (formerly Delaware Valley HMO) where she had worked from 1980 to 1996. Post retirement, in 2003, Mary accepted a position as a school nurse at St. Helena's Catholic School in Wilmington, Del., where she worked until 2007 when she moved to Norcross, Ga.
Mary is survived by her four children, Thomas Cavanaugh of Deering, N.H., William Cavanaugh of St. Simons Island, Ga., Cathleen Kitchen of Norcross, Ga. and Suzanne Bernett of Pittsburgh, Penn; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, William Cavanaugh and her second husband, Dennis McDonald. She married William J. Cavanaugh on February 3, 1951 and had four children.
For online condolences, please visit: Beesonfuneral home.com (302) 453-1900.