Marie Jayne (Mason) Bunker

Marie Mason Bunker was born on January 16th, 1930 in Amsterdam, New York and left us to be with our Lord on February 9, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.  Her life will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 15th with a visitation and Mass at St. Gilbert Church in Grayslake at 10:00 and a ceremony at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville immediately following.  

Marie was predeceased by her husband, Rod Bunker, her parents, Dominic and Grace Mason, as well as her brother, Virgil Mason and her sister, Frances Heffern.  She will be greatly missed by those she cherished and who loved her greatly: daughters Dawn Matthews and Dru Frick, sons-in-law Joseph Matthews and Brian Frick, grandchildren Timothy Frick, Shannon Feretich (Nick), Sarah Matthews, Laura Matthews, Christopher Matthews, her closest niece, Carol DeCrona, as well as many other nieces and nephews.

Marie grew up in Amsterdam, New York until she graduated high school, when she moved with her family to California.  Artistic from a young age, she attended LA State college with the intention of graduating with an art degree. However, when one of their assignments was to visit an elementary school, she realized her true calling was to be a teacher.  She graduated with a teaching credential and immediately embarked on a career that lasted for decades.  As Miss Mason, she was a beloved first grade teacher.  After marrying her husband, Rod, she became Mrs. Bunker (as most of her former students know her) and continued teaching until taking time off to have her daughters.  Once her children were in school, she returned to the classroom as a reading teacher, first at St. Rita’s in Sierra Madre, then later at San Roque School in Santa Barbara.  As a teacher, she made an incredible impact on her students.  She brought out the best in all of the children she taught, and possessed an amazing talent to gently guide all of them to develop into lifelong readers, letting each of them know what great belief she had in them, and helped them to believe in themselves, as well.  Her impact lasted on her students as they went on to many different careers in their lives, and many stayed in touch with her over the span of many decades.  

Marie was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.  She and her husband, Rod, celebrated nearly 65 years of love and happiness together.  She actively supported her daughters in all their interests from dance to horses, and everything in between. She tirelessly led Girl Scout troops, helped with school activities and fundraisers, and went on to support the activities of her grandchildren, as well.  She was also a woman of great faith and was an inspiring role model for her children.  Her great kindness and  generosity showed in her contribution of many years of volunteer teaching, hospital work, and leading nursing home visitations, where she touched many lives with her caring spirit.

The world has lost one of its brightest lights, but Heaven gained an amazing person.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Judes.  https://www.stjude.org

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