Mary Jane Kuhns

May 31, 1927 - February 29, 2020

Mary Jane McCarthy Kuhns May 31, 1927 – February 29, 2020 Mary Jane McCarthy Kuhns (nee Colbert) died Saturday, February 29, 2020, after a long illness. She was 92. Born in New York City, Mary Jane was the daughter of Elsie (Balcom) and James Colbert. She attended The Good Shepard Elementary School and graduated from George Washington High School, both in New York City. Upon graduation, she worked as a teletype operator for Merrill Lynch. In 1950, she married Charles (Charlie), Edward McCarthy. They moved from Manhattan in 1957 and raised their four children (Nancy McCarthy (Philip Miele), Marianne McCarthy Lastorka (Joseph Lastorka), Charles E. McCarthy (Doreen Russo McCarthy) and Philip James McCarthy (Lori Shiftman McCarthy) in Commack, Long Island, New York. In 1985 Mary Jane and Charlie left Commack and moved to New Port Richey, Fl. They were members of St. James The Apostle Catholic Church, The American Legion, the Order of Ancient Hibernians, and The Elks Club in New Port Richey. After Charlie’s death in 1990, Mary Jane continued her memberships and active participation in the community. In 1992 she married John Kuhns, who had moved to the area from Chicago. John died in 2002. Mary Jane is survived by her four children and daughter-in-law Doreen Russo McCarthy. She has eight grandchildren, Kerri Elizabeth Lastorka Aarnio (Ryan Dailey), Brian Joseph Lastorka, Sean Stanley Lastorka, Stephanie Marie McCarthy Rinder (Daniel Rinder), Melissa Janet McCarthy, Lauren Anne McCarthy, and Melanie Elizabeth McCarthy. Her six great-grandchildren are Derek Joseph Aarnio, Halie Marie Aarnio, Elizabeth Grace Aarnio, Ryder Kenneth Dailey, Charlotte Jane Dailey, and Haley Elizabeth Rinder. Mary Jane loved her family and was beloved by them in return. She made every holiday special; every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild felt loved. She also enjoyed having a good time. She was an athlete, having played on a championship basketball team in high school and kept active with golf throughout her adult life. Until a few years ago, she could be seen playing bocce ball with friends at local community centers. Nannie was a force to be reckoned with. She could be sweet as a sugar cookie or tough as she thought she needed to be, depending on the situation. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren wish they each had one more day with this incredible woman, but are all glad that her suffering is done, she is at peace and has gone home to God. We will see her again on the other side someday.