Mary Jane Bentz

Mary Jane Bentz, age 96, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 4, 2025, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the beloved daughter of Charles and Lena (Schell) Kammer, and sister of Richard, Robert, and Stanley Kammer, all of whom preceded her in death.

MJ graduated from Hughes High School in Cincinnati in 1947. She worked briefly in advertising before marrying Edward S. Bentz, a reporter for The Cincinnati Enquirer who had served in the Army in Europe during WWII. They shared a love of West Coast jazz, modern art & architecture, hummingbirds, and dogs of all kinds. Their song was "My Buddy" by Chet Baker. The couple moved to St. Petersburg in the 1950s, and later balanced beach life with summers in Vermont. Ed preceded her in death in 2007. In her widowhood, MJ enjoyed yoga & meditation, meeting friends at Ted Peters, Skidders and Leverock's, opera simulcasts at Eckerd College, volunteering for Pass-a-Grille Beach cleanup, and working as a "professional dog petter." What happened at Grandma's, stayed at Grandma's.

She is survived by two daughters, Lisa Bentz of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Robin Bentz Wolgast (Stephen) of Topeka, Kansas; granddaughters Lee, Katherine, and Diana Wolgast; and friend and caregiver Danielle Carlton of St. Petersburg, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to WEDU. MJ will be laid to rest with Ed, beneath a hummingbird grave marker, in Tiffin, Ohio. Nights are long since you went away. Your buddy misses you.