Mary Jane Clatworthy Ferrari was a long-time resident of Santa Clara County. She passed away peacefully on May 25, 2017 at the age of 94.

Mary Jane was born in Fort Morgan, Colorado on February 18, 1923. After her parents divorced, she moved to Sierra Madre near Los Angeles with her mother, Freda Miller Clatworthy and brother Bill Clatworthy, who was seven years older.

They settled into a bungalow in a picturesque tree-lined neighborhood not far from the Santa Anita Racetrack. Mary Jane's mother's income was supplemented by taking in a boarder, horse trainer Tom Smith, whose perseverance led Seabiscuit to legendary victories. Mary Jane described herself as shy and she her brother were extremely close. Bill bought Mary Jane her first pair of high heels and taught her how to dance.

Bill went on to Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. He eventually helped found the field of pediatric surgery in the state of Ohio. He told Mary Jane it was his early involvement in theater that helped give him the confidence to speak in front of others in his groundbreaking medical lectures that shaped his career.

Mary Jane always looked up to Bill. He helped her gain a sense of fearlessness that she used throughout her life. The ability to take risks and embrace challenges enabled Mary Jane to build a successful business in the late 70s with Gerald while raising a family of six children. The venture still exists today.

Freda eventually had to sell their Sierra Madre home to pay for her high school tuition to enroll at a private boarding school outside of Boston, Dana Hall.

Like her brother Bill, she went to Stanford University where she met Gerald Ferrari, the youngest son Louis Ferrari, an Italian immigrant, who helped start what became Bank of America.

Gerald was drafted into the Army Air Force in World War II and Mary Jane worked in Washington DC as an executive's secretary for the International Red Cross. After the war, Mary Jane was able to finish her degree at Stanford. She and Gerald married in on August 2, 1947 after graduation.

At first, Gerald ran a family rose business, then went to Stanford Law School. They were married for 55 years before Gerald's passing in 2002. They were always together and a tremendous pair. Before he died, he told Mary Jane that they had fun together and had "infinite love."

In the 1960's, Mary Jane was a secretary for St. Nicholas Church. While raising six children, she also worked at Nueva School in the 70's as an assistant to Mary Laycock, a pioneer in math education.

Mary Jane's friends from Stanford remained a key part of her and Gerald's social network throughout her life.

In recent years, she enjoyed her book club and found it a great intellectual and social outlet.

Mary Jane is survived by her children Teresa Votruba, Bernardo Ferrari, Maria Mapps, Dominic Ferrari, Marcantonio Ferrari and Alicia Ferrari. She had 19 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Mary Jane's grandson Brandon Silversprings and his wife Jessica are having a baby boy in about a month.

A vigil will be held at Spangler's in Los Altos at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, May 30 with a funeral mass at St. Nicholas Church at noon on May 31. Burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos will follow.