Mary Jane Kunberger

Mary Jane Kunberger (nee Nordby) passed peacefully in her sleep on December 3, 2021. A beloved wife, mother, sister, Belee (grandmother) and aunt; Jane was an educator, homemaker, and a fierce and loyal friend.

Jane was born August 2, 1947, in Chicago, IL, the oldest child of Richard J. “Dick’’ and Mary Nordby. She was a graduate of Northern Illinois University and a sister of Alpha Delta Pi. While at school at Northern Illinois, Jane met Jim Kunberger and they were married November 20, 1971. Jane and Jim recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by family and friends.

After graduating and getting married, Jane was an elementary school educator in Arlington Heights, IL. She became very close with a group of friends from her first year teaching and they travelled around the country for ‘girls weekends’ well after their teaching days were over.

Jane and the family moved to Dunwoody, GA, in April 1979, and started putting down roots in their community. They were active parishioners at both St. Jude’s and All Saints Catholic Churches in Dunwoody and on Saturday afternoons in the summer the entire family could be reliably found at the corner umbrella table at Wynterhall Swim & Tennis Club. In Dunwoody, Jane found an amazing group of women, who became lifelong friends and the “Birthday Club.” Jane was active as a “Band Mom” for six years at Marist School, and continued being supportive of her son’s musical interests as they moved on to Georgia Tech.

After 15-plus years of running the Kunberger household, Jane went back to work in education and finished her career at Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta. In pre-retirement Jane and Jim moved to Marietta, GA, where they have lived the past 20 years. They were active at Catholic Church of St Ann where Jane participated in Bible Study.

Jane was the beloved wife of Jim; loving mother of Jeff (Tanya) Kunberger and Jason Kunberger; cherished grandmother of Alex and Anna Kunberger; dear sister of John (Sela) Nordby, Susan Nordby Diskin and Cheryl (Steve) Schmidt; dear sister-in law of Lynn (Ray) Maher, Betsy Kunberger, Beth (Dale) Dowsett and Bill (Lane) Kunberger; and sweet aunt to many others. Jane is predeceased by her parents, Dick and Mary Nordby; sister, Nancy J. Campbell and brother-in law, Chip Kunberger.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on December 17 at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, 4905 Roswell Road, Marietta; followed by a reception at The Ole Towne Athletic Club, 4950 Olde Towne Parkway, Marietta, 30068.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made in Jane’s memory to Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School at HIES Development Department, 805 Mt. Vernon Hwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 or by calling 404-847-1153.