Mary Jane Kolis, 93

ADAMS, Mass. —  Mrs. Mary Jane Strauss Kolis, 93, of Adams, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, at the Kaplan House in Danvers surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Pittsfield on March 18, 1928, to the late Stephen and Helen Marauszwski Strauss.

Her husband of 67 years, William "Butch" Kolis, whom she married on Oct. 26, 1946, passed away April 2, 2014. She attended schools in Pittsfield and graduated from Pittsfield High School with the class of 1945.

Mrs. Kolis last worked as the distribution clerk for the former Adelphia Cable until her retirement. The longest part of her working career was with the former Adams Supermarket, where she worked for more than 30 years, getting to know thousands of people and building wonderful friendships. Before that, she had worked at the former Berkshire Mills and, during World War II, the former Elmvale Worsted Co. of Pittsfield.

She was a communicant of the Parish of St. John Paul II at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. She was a member of the Adams Senior Center.

Her role as "Mother Nature" at the Berkshire Mountains Faerie Festival captured her spirit of adventure, whimsy and creativity.

She was a warrior when it came to her love and support of family and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her four children, Gail Sellers of North Adams, Ellen Clarkson of Danvers, William F. Kolis Jr. and his wife, Donna, of Lakewood, Ohio, and Lynn Herlihy and her husband, James, of Sinking Spring, Pa.; nine grandchildren, Jason Sellers, husband of Nissa, of Phoenix; Nathan Sellers, husband of Julia, of University Heights, Ohio; Kathryn Burne, wife of Andrew, of Long Beach, Calif.; Jeffery Clarkson, husband of Kimberly, of Gloucester; Jonathan Clarkson of Charleston, S.C.; Sara Butts, wife of Brian, and Rachel Kolis, partner of Geoff Knox, all of Lakewood; Megan Asklar, wife of Robert, of Wayne, Pa., and Molly Burley, wife of Daniel, of Lansdale, Pa.

She also leaves 12 great-grandchildren, Voss and Ravenna Sellers of Phoenix, James, Bradley, Nathan and Daniel Sellers, all of University Heights; Anna Burne of Long Beach, Dylan Rose Clarkson of Gloucester, Owen and Catherine Butts of Lakewood, Stella Lynn Asklar of Wayne, Pa., and Lillian Jane Burley of Lansdale.

MaryJane was predeceased by her two sons-in-law, Phillip Sellers and David Clarkson, and her brother Stephen Strauss Jr.

FUNERAL NOTICE: The funeral will be held on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 8:30 a.m. from PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St., Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9:30 in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams.

Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Adams.

Calling hours will be Friday from 4 to 6 at the funeral home.

The family requests in lieu of flowers donations may be made to, Adams Council on Aging, 3 Hoosac St., Adams, Ma. 01220 or to The Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St. Watertown, Ma. 02472

To leave a message of condolence, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com.