Mary Jane Zuknick

Mary Jane (Abell) Zuknick, age 84, was born on November 6, 1940, in Washington D.C. and passed peacefully into eternity on September 17, 2025, in her home in Sarasota, Florida. She was the eldest child of her late parents: Wilfred Anthony Abell and Rose Mary (Milton) Abell.

Mary Jane was also preceded in death by her stillborn son, John Wilfred Zuknick.

Mary Jane is survived by an abundance of cherished family members: her loving husband of 66 years, Raymond L. Zuknick, Sr.; six siblings, Betty (Butch) Hayden, Bernadine Swann, John Abell, Jim Abell, Frank Abell, and Carol (John) Kretschmer; five children, Jane (George) Morgan, Susan (Eric) Edelston, Raymond “Bo” (Tammy) Zuknick, Jr., Steve (Lissette) Zuknick, and Anne Marie (Sim) Wilson; seven grandchildren, Ashley (Barry) Cline, Trisha Zuknick, Joey Zuknick, Isabelle (Chase) Shatswell, Julianne Zuknick, Jon Zuknick, and Luisa Zuknick; and 3 great grandchildren, Abigail York, Madison York, and Jaxon Cline. She also leaves behind a host of other family and friends that will miss her dearly.

MJ, as she was endearingly known, graduated from Bladensburg High School (Bladensburg, MD) in 1958. She and her husband Ray were high school sweethearts and never missed an opportunity to hit the dance floor. She held a clerical role for the Office of Naval Intelligence, was the office manager for C&Z Auto Repair, and served generously as a homemaker. She was a member of the Manasota Track Club from its inception, and was a devout member of Incarnation Catholic Church since 1961 — there she served as a CCD teacher, Eucharist minister, office volunteer, and prayer line chair for many years. Outside of these accomplishments, she enjoyed tending her lush garden, going to Siesta Key beach to run or walk, and competing in road races (including all years of the Skyway 10K).

Those who knew Mary Jane will remember her for her infectious smile, larger-than-life energy, mischievous nature, and inability to know a stranger. She loved to laugh and lived life to the fullest. She loved anything botanical almost as much as she loved the beach, or “paradise” as it was affectionately put. She was fun-loving, fiercely determined, highly competitive, and would do nearly anything just for the story of it.

Mary Jane, our mom, grandmama, sister, aunt, and friend was a magnetic force of a woman, an inspiration of confidence, and truly one-of-a-kind.

The viewing will take place from 6 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home.

The Requiem mass to honor the life of Mary Jane Zuknick will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at Incarnation Catholic Church. The interment will take place at 11:30 a.m. in Sarasota Memorial Park with a fellowship at Incarnation to follow.