Mary Jane (Naples) Napolitano Ashley
November 19, 1933 ~ February 28, 2025
Born in:
Portland, ME
Resided in:
Glendale, AZ
Glendale, AZ – Mary Jane (Naples) Napolitano Ashley, 91, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 28, 2025.
Mary Jane was born in Portland on November 19, 1933. She was the daughter of the late Frank J. Naples and Margaret Mary (Locke) Naples. Raised and early educated on Munjoy Hill, she graduated from Cathedral High School, Class of 1951. Following high school Mary Jane began her working career at New England Telephone Company. Prior to her marriage, she was a communicant of the Cathedral Parish and volunteered with her sister assisting in the rectory after Sunday masses.
In 1957 Mary Jane married the love of her life, Jim Ashley. Together they began their young family in Somerville, Massachusetts, eventually settling in Wilmington, Massachusetts, where they raised their family. Mary Jane and Jim always made sure that they stayed close to their roots in Maine. The Ashley family, along with other close family, took treasured vacations at Higgins Beach in Scarborough, creating a lifetime of memories.
After spending many years raising her family, she returned to work at various companies in Southern NH as an Administrative Assistant and ending with Astra Zeneca in Wilmington, MA. Upon retirement Mary Jane and Jim decided to move back home to Maine where they always enjoyed Sunday morning breakfast at IHOP in their reserved seats with sister Kay and her husband Frank. In her spare time, Mary Jane enjoyed gardening, shopping, knitting and baking. She especially enjoyed her special bond with her identical twin sister and best friend, the late Katherine “Kay” McDonald.
Mary Jane was predeceased by her beloved husband of 61 years, James E. Ashley, Jr.; siblings, Frank J. (Naples) Napolitano, Jr., and Katherine “Kay” McDonald. She is survived by her children, James E. Ashley, III, Susan M. Ashley-Kistner and husband Peter, Gregory M. Ashley and wife Elizabeth, and Christopher J. Ashley and wife Elizabeth; grandchildren, Jaelyn, Juliette, Joshua, Jonathan, Jaime, Nicholas and wife Kelsey, Meghan, Jacob and wife Lauren, Jesse and wife Madison and Julia; and great-grandchild, Jaquilyne; sister, Joanne M. Yates and her husband Peter; and brother, Dickie (Naples) Napolitano and his wife Susan, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Prayers will be recited at the Funeral Home at 9am on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress St. Portland, a burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Mary Jane’s memory to Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, online at www.alz.org/maine/about?form=FUNDHYMMBXU
Services
Prayers: Friday, March 14, 2025 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home - South Portland Chapel
1024 Broadway
South Portland, Maine 04106
Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, March 14, 2025 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
307 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Photo Gallery
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle