Mary Jane Gleitz

Mary Jane was born to Horace and Elsie Keith on March 3, 1935, in Laconia, Indiana. Laconia is a small rural town where she attended a one room schoolhouse. She had many cousins, aunts and uncles on both sides of her family. She grew up on her grandparent’s farm by the Ohio River until age 11 when she moved to the town of Corydon with her mother. There she met many lifelong friends and graduated from Corydon High School. She then graduated from the Norton School of Nursing where she met more lifelong friends. She married Jay Gleitz from Corydon, IN in 1955 after he completed his duty in the army. They lived in New Albany, IN for a few years where they had two children, Doug (JD) and Lynnette. The family moved a few times due to Jays work with the DuPont company. They went to Wilmington, Delaware for a year, and then to Whitehall, Michigan. Mary Jane enjoyed taking the kids to Lake Michigan swimming and playing in the parks and sand dunes. Also, there was plenty of snow and cold for skiing and ice skating. They had close friendships with other DuPont families. The next move was to Newark, Delaware. Mary Jane loved living there. She and her friends and family would go to New York, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore and the beaches. She lived in the same house in Newark for 44 years. She worked in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and a nursing home, but her favorite job seemed to be her work in orthopedics. Particularly when she worked in Pediatric Orthopedics at the duPont Institute where they cared for kids from around the world with severe problems. Later in life she finished her degree at the University of Delaware as required to continue working as an RN.

She volunteered at the hospital, the Opera House, and in politics.

Mary Jane loved playing in the same bridge club for decades. She took good care of her home and gardens, She and Jay thoroughly enjoyed the University of Delaware football games and tailgate parties.

She also loved traveling. She sometimes went with Jay, sometimes with other couples and sometimes with girlfriends. She took trips to Asia, Europe, Russia, Hawaii, and various islands in the Caribbean.

After her husband Jay died in 2010, she decided to move to Balfor Independent Living in Louisville, CO in 2012. She participated in activities with good friends, including bridge, mahjong, hiking, traveling, music performances, eating out and happy hours. She enjoyed attending Louisville United Methodist and then Longs Peak United Methodist Church.

Her last move was to Hover Green Houses skilled care where the staff loved her and took good care of her. She was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer and died peacefully a week later, on October 30, 2026.

Mary Jane is survived by her children Jay D Gleitz (Shari Malloy) and Lynnette Gleitz -Guinn (Randy), and her grandson Ryan Cull (JoJo).

No formal services will be held. Donations may be made in her name to Longs Peak Methodist Church in Longmont, CO.