Obituary of Mary Jane Kuehn
Mary Jane Kuehn, of North Salem, NY passed away on Friday, August 21st 2020 in her home that she shared with her family for 50 years.
Mary Jane is predeceased by her beloved husband, David D. Kuehn, grand-daughter, Kristina Kuehn, and daughter-in-law, Jan Vitti. She is survived by children David D. Kuehn, Jr., and partner, Ken Kolski, Stephen C. Kuehn, Janis (Kuehn) Nagi and son-in-law, Michael Nagi. She is the devoted grandmother of Sarah Kuehn, Kaitlyn (Nagi) Pena, Erica (Nagi) Bentley and loving great grandmother of Brandon Shafer, William Rafter, Alasdair Bentley, and Autumn Pena.
Mary Jane was born on December 14th, 1922 in Plainfield, New Jersey. She married her high school sweetheart, David, in 1942 when he enlisted in the Air Force. During World War II, Mary Jane worked as a Medical Secretary in Summit, NJ and in David’s absence, continued to manage his thriving newspaper delivery business. In 1959, she and David moved from their Cedar Brook Farm in Millington, NJ to Chappaqua, NY and ultimately to North Salem in 1970.
Always interested in art and theater from a young age, Mary Jane delighted her friends and family with her beautiful oil and watercolor paintings. She studied art in NJ and later at Silvermine School of Art and with Carmen Lund in Croton Falls. Maja, her preferred name for signing paintings, showcased her work in several solo and group art shows, including shows at the School House Gallery in Croton Falls, Katonah Women’s Club, and the North Salem Free Library. Her paintings often depicted historical scenes and houses in North Salem or places she had visited in her travels to Europe. Her art legacy lives on through these paintings, which now hang in the homes of dear North Salem friends and family.
Mary Jane volunteered at the Northern Westchester Hospital for over 40 years and was an active member of the First Congregational Church in Ridgefield, CT. As past President & Trustee of the North Salem Historical Society, former member of the North Salem Ruth Keeler Library Board of Trustees, former District Commissioner of Golden’s Bridge Hounds Pony Club, and member of Golden’s Bridge Hounds, Mary Jane was an active and committed member of her North Salem community.
Mary Jane and her husband, Dave, embodied the phrase, “Happiness is Being Married to Your Best Friend,” and enjoyed bringing friends and family together for intimate dinners and unique costume parties. Her passions included art, gardening, cooking, genealogy, travel, and entertaining. Mary Jane had a talent for bringing fun to life and adored spending time with her wide circle of friends hailing from all spectrums of her life.
Services and burial will be private. Donations in Mary Jane’s memory can be made to the North Salem Historical Society, please visit NSHS.info or mail to North Salem Historical Society, PO Box 31, North Salem, NY 10560. Thank you.
