Mary Jane Dowd Padula, age 87 years, of High Bridge Borough, NJ, died peacefully on Friday, January 15, 2021 at home, surrounded by her loving and devoted family, and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, January 9, 1934, daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Cook Dowd, she had lived in High Bridge since 2017, having grown up in Brooklyn and living previously in Piscataway, NJ and Tarpon Springs, FL.

The eighth child of ten born to John and Elizabeth, she is the last survivor of her siblings, having been preceded in death by Lily, Sarah, Katherine, Edward, Martin, Peggy, Gertrude, Estelle, and Joan.

A woman who lived by faith to help make this world a better place, she grew up in the parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary where she was grounded in the ideals of faith, hope, and love. She would later become a longtime and devoted communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Piscataway, NJ, St. Ignatius Church, Tarpon Springs, FL, and St. Joseph’s Church, High Bridge, NJ.

While faith grounded Mary, love is what filled her heart with meaning. Meeting her future husband, Joe, at a swimming pool in Brooklyn, the two soon became inseparable and were married on September 13, 1952 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Brooklyn, NY. Their union would result in eight children and sixteen grandchildren; a family that made Mary proud each and every day.

As a young couple, Mary and Joe initially lived in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY, where the young family was active participants in the parish of  Our Lady Of Angels. Mary enjoyed all of their parish friends who over time became extended family (especially the Cosentino and Palumbo families). She also loved being a part of The Immaculate Heart Of Mary Group, being involved in Girl Scouts, and many other church functions.

Mary’s life was certainly being a devoted mother and family matriarch. However, she also was no stranger to hard work outside of the home, and held jobs in banking, retail, bus driving, and as a cook. She also was a caregiver for retired clergy at Maria Regina, Somerset, NJ, which filled her heart with much joy.

Always putting others first, Mary was an inspiration to all who met her. She always tried to follow Jesus’s call to “follow me” and instinctively used her genuine love, compassion, and ‘Brooklyn Smarts” to help others in whatever way they needed. She was independent and had an ability to feel the needs of others and would do whatever she could to help them. Though no longer with us physically, Mary is surely happy as she was reunited with her dear Joe, and all those who have gone before. She would not want anyone reading this to be sad, but to rather pray for her soul, and all the souls of the faithfully departed. She would encourage each person reading this to follow their heart, knowing they are loved by Jesus, and to live their lives in service to others and to God.

In addition to her parents and siblings, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph Vincent Padula in 2019; their first child, Joseph in 1953, and a son-in-law, Craig “Butch” Ward.

Surviving are her children, Deborah and her husband, James Stuckey, Elizabeth Ann Ward, Vincent Padula and his wife, Irene, Peter Padula and his wife, Tina, James Padula, Bernadette and her husband, Christopher Wescott, and Maria Latargia; her grandchildren, Craig Ward, Nicole Stuckey, James Stuckey, Danielle Stuckey, Anthony Padula, Christine Padula, Nicholas Padula, Peter Padula, Joseph Padula, Angelo Padula, Melissa Padula, Jessica Wescott, Samantha Wescott, Emily Wescott, Alyssa Latargia, and Jake Latargia; her first great grandchild due in March 2021; numerous extended family; and many dear friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. James Kyrpczak will take place on Friday, January 22, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, 59 Main Street, High Bridge, NJ 08829 under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Please note: due to the current pandemic, only immediate family is able to attend in person. Realizing that many would attend if times were different, the mass will be streamed on the church’s facebook page by clicking HERE.

Entombment will follow at Immaculate Conception Mausoleum, 316 Old Allerton Road, Annandale, NJ.

Kindly remember that given the current state of the pandemic, masks must be worn at all times on the church and cemetery grounds, and social distancing must be maintained. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival at church.

You are encouraged to visit Mary’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

For those who wish to honor Mary’s life, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Church at the address above or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”