MARY JANE BOURNER ESSELBURNE, age 84, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Washington Court House, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nell Stedman Bourner and James Franklin Bourner of Bexley, Ohio. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 46 years, Peter Campbell Esselburne, whom she married on December 15, 1979, at St. Catherine Church in Bexley, Ohio. Survivors include her sister-in-law, Anne Esselburne Sheeran of Grand Junction, Colorado, sister, Joanne and John O'Donnell of Bay Village, Ohio, and sister, Cathy Hess of Charlotte, North Carolina. Also, nieces and nephews, Susan and Bishoy Mikhail of Bay Village, Ohio, Jeff and Kara O'Donnell of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Kristin and Charles James of Charleston, South Carolina, John Hess of Charlotte, North Carolina, Dr. Philip & Pam Hess of Gainesville, Florida, as well as several great nieces and nephews whom she cherished.

Mary Jane is a graduate of St. Mary of the Springs Academy, class of '60, and received both bachelor's and master's Degrees from Ohio State University. She was a teacher with Columbus City Schools. She had elementary positions, but her real love was her work as a reading specialist. She retired in 2003 after a career of 31 years.

Mary Jane and her husband Pete adopted labrador retrievers from the Circleville Pet Shelter and loved giving each one of five dogs in succession a home. Molly, a yellow lab whom they cherished, lived with them for nine years, and was a joy to have, until she passed away in March of 2024.

Mary Jane loved reading, travel, and getting together with friends to visit or to enjoy lunch or dinner. She will be remembered as an outgoing person. She and Pete loved to travel to Western states, particularly Wyoming, Alaska, England, and Scotland.

She was a member of the Carnegie Public Library book club, Retired Teachers of Fayette County, American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma international teacher's sorority and Fayette Garden Club. She thoroughly enjoyed the good fellowship she found in all these groups. She was a member of the St. Colman of Cloyne Catholic Church.

A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Colman of Cloyne, 219 S. North St., Washington Court House, OH, on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow at Washington Cemetery, 1741 Washington Ave., Washington Court House, OH in the Columbarium structure for cremated remains. A luncheon will be provided by the parish to be hosted by the Women of St. Colman in the Parish Hall following the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Colman's Catholic Church, 219 S. North Street, Washington Court House, OH 43160.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Summers Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.summersfuneralhome.com