Mary Jane Chaplin

Mary Jane Chaplin, of Livingston, Texas, died at the age of 73 on Thursday, July 25, 2024. A graveside service will take place at Newton Union Cemetery at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, September 14, 2024, with a luncheon to follow at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1900 N 4th Ave E, Newton, Iowa.

Mary Jane, the daughter of Marion and Mary (Bakalar) Benac, was born on August 23, 1950, in Newton, Iowa. She graduated from Newton Senior High School, class of 1968 and was employed for 13 years at Memorial Herman Hospital in Woodland, Texas. Prior to this, she extended her RN degree at the Univerity of Texas in 1984, while working as a regional manager for a home healthcare provider. Her career path spans decades in the healthcare field. Mary Jane was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Livingston, Texas. She sang in the choir and volunteered wherever she could be of help. She loved to work in her flower gardens, walking, hiking, fishing, and travelling. She was a loving wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt, and friend.

Those left to honor Mary Jane’s memory are her husband of 35 years, David Chaplin of The Woodlands, Texas; her sons, Cory (Deana) O’Brien, Christopher (Marie) O’Brien of Henderson, Nevada, and Jonathan Chaplin of the UK; her daughter, Claire (Tim) Jones of New Zealand; sisters, Loretta Tool of Newton and Tina (Randy) Frein of Mason City, Iowa; grandchildren, James O’Brien and Adam O’Brien of Henderson, Nevada, and Constance (Connie) and Cameron Jones of New Zealand; as well as several nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Cindy Koopman.