Obituary for Mary B. Jackson (Bonat)
MARY B. JACKSON
Mary B. Jackson, 98, of Hershey, entered into eternal rest on Friday, January 13, 2023, at the Forest Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Carlisle. She was born in Waltonville on July 13, 1924, and was the daughter of the late Anthony and Mamie (Purcell) Bonat, one of the first Italian families to settle in Hershey.
Mary enjoyed working in her large flower garden, referred to by some as Hershey Gardens II. She also enjoyed cooking and baking. Christmastime involved baking more than 40 different kinds of cookies for her family. Mary enjoyed going to the casino, playing bingo and card games and being with family.
When Mary graduated from Hershey High School in 1942, she accepted a job at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where she worked alongside General Dwight D. Eisenhower. While working in Washington, Mary met her future husband, Robert V. Jackson. They were married in Hershey in 1947. Robert predeceased Mary in September, 2001.
Mary held several jobs as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone, on the assembly lines at the Hershey Chocolate Factory and assisted her husband in the operation of S&S Auto Parts, Hershey. In 1972, after Robert suffered a debilitating stroke, Mary took over S&S while taking care of her two daughters, running her home and caring for her disabled husband for 30 years. She was nothing short of a dynamo.
After seeing a newspaper ad for extras needed in a film, Mary and her sisters, Caroline and Antoinette, appeared on the Hollywood big screen in the 2010 Ernest Borgnine movie, “Another Harvest Moon,” filmed in Harrisburg. In their early days, Mary and her sisters sang on a local radio station.
Mary is survived by her sisters, Caroline Butsko and Irene Rice. Mary was preceded in death by her four sisters, Dolores Houser, Antoinette Crout, Carmela Bonat and Janet Leach; and two brothers, Fred and Theodore Bonat. Mary is survived by her daughters Debra S. Andrews, and her husband, Andrew Andrews, of Hershey, and Patricia A. Jackson Juris, and her husband, Andrew D. Juris, of Etters. She is also survived by grandchildren, Nicole, Alexander and step grandson Kevin and a great-granddaughter, Liliana.
The family would like to thank the special angels who helped take care of Mary in her later years, including Michelle and Kim and the staff at Bayada Healthcare, Hyat at Easyudo Services, the team at Heartland Hospice and the staff at Forest Park.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, Middletown, with the Rev. Fr. Timothy Sahd officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of church service.
Interment will follow at Broadview Cemetery in Hershey. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mary's name may be made to ProMedica/Heartland Hospice. To send condolences online, or to view a livestream of the funeral service, please visit www.matinchekfuneralhome.com.
Mary B. Jackson, 98, of Hershey, entered into eternal rest on Friday, January 13, 2023, at the Forest Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Carlisle. She was born in Waltonville on July 13, 1924, and was the daughter of the late Anthony and Mamie (Purcell) Bonat, one of the first Italian families to settle in Hershey.
Mary enjoyed working in her large flower garden, referred to by some as Hershey Gardens II. She also enjoyed cooking and baking. Christmastime involved baking more than 40 different kinds of cookies for her family. Mary enjoyed going to the casino, playing bingo and card games and being with family.
When Mary graduated from Hershey High School in 1942, she accepted a job at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where she worked alongside General Dwight D. Eisenhower. While working in Washington, Mary met her future husband, Robert V. Jackson. They were married in Hershey in 1947. Robert predeceased Mary in September, 2001.
Mary held several jobs as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone, on the assembly lines at the Hershey Chocolate Factory and assisted her husband in the operation of S&S Auto Parts, Hershey. In 1972, after Robert suffered a debilitating stroke, Mary took over S&S while taking care of her two daughters, running her home and caring for her disabled husband for 30 years. She was nothing short of a dynamo.
After seeing a newspaper ad for extras needed in a film, Mary and her sisters, Caroline and Antoinette, appeared on the Hollywood big screen in the 2010 Ernest Borgnine movie, “Another Harvest Moon,” filmed in Harrisburg. In their early days, Mary and her sisters sang on a local radio station.
Mary is survived by her sisters, Caroline Butsko and Irene Rice. Mary was preceded in death by her four sisters, Dolores Houser, Antoinette Crout, Carmela Bonat and Janet Leach; and two brothers, Fred and Theodore Bonat. Mary is survived by her daughters Debra S. Andrews, and her husband, Andrew Andrews, of Hershey, and Patricia A. Jackson Juris, and her husband, Andrew D. Juris, of Etters. She is also survived by grandchildren, Nicole, Alexander and step grandson Kevin and a great-granddaughter, Liliana.
The family would like to thank the special angels who helped take care of Mary in her later years, including Michelle and Kim and the staff at Bayada Healthcare, Hyat at Easyudo Services, the team at Heartland Hospice and the staff at Forest Park.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, Middletown, with the Rev. Fr. Timothy Sahd officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of church service.
Interment will follow at Broadview Cemetery in Hershey. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mary's name may be made to ProMedica/Heartland Hospice. To send condolences online, or to view a livestream of the funeral service, please visit www.matinchekfuneralhome.com.