Mary Jane Clemens

Mary Jane Clemens of Altamonte Springs, Florida, passed away peacefully at her desk early on Monday, July 6, 2026 at the age of 81. She was born on January 29, 1945, her maternal grandmother’s birthday, in Seattle, Washington, where her parents were stationed during WWII. Her parents first brought her to West Chester, Pennsylvania to live with her father’s Italian family. They then moved to Kittery Point, Maine, to live with her maternal grandparents. As her family had grown, her parents moved to Orlando, Florida when she was 12 years old. She lived in Altamonte Springs, Florida for the last 53 years.

She graduated from Evans High School. She married at 16 years old and gave birth to her first daughter, Theresa at 17. Her second daughter, Dawn arrived two years later. Although young, she had a keen sense of finding opportunities to support her family. She was a bookkeeper for the City of Cocoa, when her daughters started school. This is where she thrived and realized how great she was with numbers. This knowledge would lead her through her many business enterprises. She then moved her family back to the Central Florida area where she was a stay at home mother. However, she was never “still.” She was a Girl Scout Leader, Brownie Leader, a “Plant Lady”” (a backyard nursery), “Crystal Lady”, and as the Crystal Lady, grew her antiquities business gaining the respect of her antique community. She also loved her roses and grew many roses in her yard for her pure enjoyment and to share with her neighbors, causing traffic jams! She was well respected in the local Rose Club but never competed although everyone agreed she had some of the most beautiful roses. She was also an avid gardener, growing her own vegetables. Her neighbors relished her gifts of her beautiful tomatoes. She also raised Monarch butterflies. She adored them and they seemed to love her back. She enjoyed reading and finding vintage and Florida books for her daughter, Theresa’s library. She loved “thrifting” for her daughters, and giving advice on selling collectibles to Dawn.

She also worked for a period for others as an accountant. But her biggest professional enjoyment was working with Heritage Estate Sales. Oh, the stories she told us! She had been a member of several antique organizations, the Rose Club, the Button Club, gardening club, and in later years, she volunteered at the Seminole Library, Friends of the Library.

She was preceded in death by her father, Vincenzo (“Vincent”) Joseph DeMarco; her mother, Alice May Borden DeMarco; her youngest brother, David Wayne DeMarco, and her beloved great grandmother, Edith Briggs Wood.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Henry Albert Clemens III; her beloved daughters, Theresa Marie Bender (Andrew B. Surratt), Dawn Lorraine Bender (Curtis McInnis), her grandsons, Tyler Philip Surratt (Catherine Pratt) and Michael Briggs Surratt (Richard Wallace), her brothers, Vincent Robert DeMarco, Michael Anthony DeMarco (Leslie), and sisters, Patricia Lou DeMarco, and Linda Gayle DeMarco, and many nieces and nephews; and her step-grandchildren, Dylan and Ashley.

Her husband’s nickname for her was “Mar-Bear.” Her daughters knew her as a true “Mama Bear,” devoted and fiercely protective of her daughters. She was a beloved mother and wife.

The family would like to thank Mom’s neighbors for their friendship, care, and compassion they gave and showed to our mother throughout the 51 years she lived in Altamonte Springs. She spoke often and highly of them.

Interment to follow at The Historic Lake Mary Cemetery, 240 Greenleaf Lane, Lake Mary, Florida 32746 (City of Lake Mary).

Mom loved roses and especially pink roses. Flowers may be sent to Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 994 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, Florida. 32701. Should you desire to make a donation In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to Harry P. Leu Gardens, City of Orlando, [email protected].