Obituary of Mary Jane C. Melo

Mary Jane Melo, 91, of Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, passed away July 28, 2021, peacefully at her home with her family by her side. Mary Jane was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Morristown, New Jersey, finally residing in Cedar Knolls where she has lived for the past fifteen years. Mary Jane was a proud graduate of Bayley High School, Class of 1948 and went on to graduate from The College of St. Elizabeth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952. Before her retirement in 1990, Mary Jane was a Claims Clerk for Fireman's Fund Insurance Company in Parsippany. Mary Jane was a faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Boonton and Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel in Cedar Knolls. She was involved in many clubs and organizations such as The Hanover Township Senior Club, The Polish American Club of Whippany, Busy Hands Knitting at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Boonton, Morris County Board of Mental Health, and Morris County Board of Social Services Mary Jane is survived by her loving children Barbara Mueller and her husband, Jack, of Tacoma, WA; Eugene Melo, and his wife, Paula, of Bradenton, FL; Catherine Nagidi, and her husband, Rachid, of Morristown, NJ; Margaret Gordon, and her husband, Lamont Simmons, of Cedar Knolls, NJ; Mary Melo and her husband, Mike Hopka, of Parsippany, NJ; and Jennifer Briggs and her husband, Randy, of Boonton, NJ. Her adoring grandchildren Lauren Barach and her husband, Eli; Sarah Abplanalp and her husband, Nick; Jared Melo; Danielle Nagidi; Alyssa Simmons; Mimi Nagidi and her fiancé, Chris Cullen; Ashley Briggs and Kelli Briggs who will carry on her memory. Mary Jane is also survived by her cherished great-grandchildren, Gianna Melo, Miles Melo, Solomon Barach, Maren Barach, and Amelia Abplanalp. She will be missed by her devoted siblings John Barron, Joseph Barron, and Janet Triggs as well as a host of caring nieces, nephews, and longtime friends, including the lobby squad at 24 Elm Place. Mary Jane is predeceased by her beloved husband Eugene (Giro) Melo (1987) and cherished son, James (Jimmy) Melo (1967). Family and friends are welcome to gather on Monday, August 2, 2021, from 3 pm to 7 pm at Dangler Funeral Home, 600 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at 10 am at Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel Church, 75 Ridgedale Avenue, Cedar Knolls. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to her favorite charities: The Veterans of Foreign Wars (https://www.vfw.org/) and the St. Joseph’s Indian School (https://www.stjo.org/).