GILBOA - Mary Jane Laban of Gilboa, passed away on Aug. 31, 2022, at St. Peter's Hospital.

Mary Jane fought meningioma tumors for 42 years. Her extraordinary will to live helped her survive five brain surgeries, radiation treatment and countless other procedures.

Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 28, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Garth and Helen (Mayer) Oeler.

Mary Jane graduated from West Mifflin North (Pennsylvania) High School in 1964. She married her high school sweetheart and moved to New York.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years Jacob Laban; her three children, Jeffrey Laban (wife, Heather), Wendi MacNeil (husband, Keith) and Christie Hale (husband, Eric); three grandchildren, Tyler MacNeil, Drew MacNeil and Adam Hale; and siblings, Jackie Manns (husband, Lenny), Glen Oeler, and Judy Kemper (husband, Rick).

Mary Jane is fondly remembered for her exceptional baking skills and for remembering and acknowledging everyone's life events with a card or a phone call. Mary Jane also liked to travel, knit, crochet, play games (Scrabble or cards), read, research ancestry and play on her computer. She especially loved spending time with her family and friends who will miss her dearly, remember her fondly, and love her always.

Mary Jane was kind and charitable. She often donated her time and resources to the Guiding eyes for blind, Catholic church, food pantry, and various other organizations.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Miller Funeral Home, 53905 State Highway 30, Roxbury. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Sacred Heart Church, 27 Harper St., Stamford, followed by interment in Gilboa Rural cemetery, Gilboa, and repast at the Conesville firehouse.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made to Sacred Heart Food Pantry, 27 Harper St. Stamford, NY 12167.