Mary Jane Hellekjaer

Born in New York, New York on July 7, 1924, she was the daughter of Colonel Clyde A. Selleck and Gertrude Troth Selleck. As part of a military family, she moved many times during her youth. She is a graduate of Barstow School in Kansas City, and Middlebury College.

Living in the Washington, D.C. area, she met and married her late husband, Per Hellekjaer, and they lived in Bethesda for many years. She helped with bookkeeping for Per of Georgetown, her husband’s salon, and was a long-time docent for the Smithsonian Institution at the National Museum of American History. She also encouraged her children and grandchildren to experience their Norwegian heritage with trips to Norway. At Maplewood she was active with landscaping and grounds, billiards, and bingo.

She is survived by a daughter, Ann Johnson (Roger) of Kensington, MD, a son Peter Hellekjaer (Jean) of Beverly Hills, MI, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

She is predeceased by a son David Per Hellekjaer; her sister JoAnne Woolsey; and her brother Colonel C.A. Selleck Jr.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date at Maplewood Park Place, 9700 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda MD 20814 on January 30th at 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to Susan G. Komen, Breast Cancer Research. https://www.komen.org/