Ridgefield resident Mary Jane (LaCava) Garavel, 88, has died

Mary Jane (LaCava) Garavel, 88, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2021, after a brief illness. Mary Jane was born in Danbury on August 21, 1932, and was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Esposito) LaCava.

Mary Jane graduated from Danbury High School and was employed in the Accounting Department at The Barden Corporation for several years before leaving to raise her family. She re-entered the workforce in the Danbury Public Schools as a Paraprofessional, where she served hundreds of students over the years in the Media Center at Shelter Rock School.

Mary Jane was well known and regarded by both staff and students and was happiest when she was busy organizing the library or reading to students. Upon her retirement, she and her husband, Jerry, moved to Southbury for several years before moving to Ridgefield in 2017. She was a devout Catholic and a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Danbury for most of her life.

Mary Jane took tremendous pride in her family. Her favorite pastime was sewing, and she lovingly created countless outfits for her children and ties for her husband. She looked forward to annual family vacations at the beach in Old Saybrook, CT, and Misquamicut, RI. Mary Jane also enjoyed gardening and refinishing furniture. She was an avid reader and challenged her children to reading contests during the summer months.

She will be lovingly missed by her husband of 64 years, Jerry, and their four children, Mary Ellen Hall and her husband Greg of Cary, IL; Pam Butler and her husband Gary of Grafton, MA, Jerry Garavel and his wife Sharon of Ridgefield, and Jean Garavel of Danbury. Mary Jane also leaves her six grandchildren, Laura, Sherri, Eric, Stephanie, Matt, and Mark, her great grandson, Ryan, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, Jack LaCava, Rosalie Garavel, Bob LaCava and George LaCava.

The family would like to thank the staff at both Ridgefield Crossings and RVNAhealth for their loving care and attention to Mary Jane over the last few years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph Church, 8 Robinson Avenue, Danbury. Facial coverings are required for all in attendance at the funeral mass. Interment will be held privately, there will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Jane’s memory to RVNAhealth, 27 Governor Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877 or online at http://www.rvnahealth.org. Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, Danbury is in care of funeral arrangements.