Mary Jane McAleer

Mary Jane McAleer, née Giorgino, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2026, in Jefferson City, Missouri.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Joseph McAleer, with whom she shared 53 years of marriage.  She also leaves behind her son, Dr. Jody McAleer, his wife Kristen, and their daughters Ashtyn, affectionately called “Sunshine” by Mary Jane, and Brooklyn, lovingly nicknamed “Missy B.”  She is further survived by her daughter, Marissa McAleer, her husband Vincent Greco Jr., and their motley crew of dogs, too many to name.  Mary Jane also leaves behind her cherished miniature schnauzer, Elsa, who misses her mom very, very much.

Mary Jane was born on September 8, 1950, in the Bronx, New York.  She often joked that she never liked her birthday because it always fell on the first day of school.  She graduated from St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School in the Bronx and went on to work as an administrative assistant for an insurance company, where she was known for her impressive typing speed of over 80 words per minute.  She remained in that industry until she had children, at which point she devoted herself fully to raising her family.  When her children were grown and Joe retired, they relocated to Missouri to be closer to their son Jody and his family.

An avid lover of the performing arts and former box office manager for the Irvington Town Hall Theatre in Irvington, New York, Mary Jane was a devoted patron of community theater in both New York and Missouri, most recently supporting Capitol City Productions in Jefferson City.  She instilled in her daughter and granddaughters a deep love of the stage.  Her favorite show was Les Misérables, which she saw multiple times.  Other favorites included Wicked, Aida, Hamilton, The Mikado, and Chicago.  She also had a fondness for doo wop music and was always ready to drop whatever she was doing to attend a performance by Kenny Vance and the Planotones.

Mary Jane had a profound love for animals and supported many local animal shelters and rescue organizations.  She was exceptionally skilled at Scrabble and Words with Friends, and she read nearly every book ever written by Stephen King and Anne Rice.  Her thumb was dark green, as evidenced by her impressive collection of thriving houseplants.  She was known for her great sense of humor, joyful laugh, and deeply compassionate heart.

Mary Jane was an incredible wife, mother, and friend.  A constant cheerleader for those she loved, she leaves behind a legacy of kindness, encouragement, and love.  She will be greatly missed.  May her memory be a blessing.

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City.    trimblefunerals.com