Mary Jane Cook was born in Smyrna, NY on March 15, 1939 to the late Rolland and Georgia Lasher. She was a graduate of Sherburne High School and attended the Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, NY. She also enjoyed taking correspondence courses in many subjects of interest to her. On June 14, 1959, at St. Malachy’s Church, she was united in marriage to Donald C. Cook. Mary Jane was active in the family businesses, Donnivale Farm and Cook’s Maple Products. On the farm she enjoyed driving tractor and learned the technicalities of cow breeding. She hosted many school tours of the sugar house and spent many hours making maple sugar. She also owned Mary Jane’s Knit Shop where she taught knitting and sewing to many. Mary Jane participated in programs at the Smyrna United Methodist Church. She also was a financial counselor through the Cooperative Extension. Mary Jane had a fun-loving personality and would participate in all types of activities with her family. She was an amazing wife, mother and grandmother. She was fondly known for her unique knitted Christmas stockings that she made for of her family and friends. Mary Jane always lived life to the fullest and her door was always open for all to stop by and visit.
Surviving are her husband Donald; her children Chris (Kimberly) Cook of Smyrna, NY, Martin Cook of Sherburne, NY, Colleen (James) Hacker of Wesley Chapel, NC, Rachel (Marty Eaves) Baker of Norwich, NY; grandchildren Lucas (Misty) Cook of Pinnacle, NC, Emily (Ed) Munro of Cincinnatus, NY, Zachary Cook of Smyrna, NY, Bradley (Eva Stone) Baker of Smyrna, NY, Lindsey (Scott Murphy) Baker of Norwich, NY, Gracie Hacker of Wesley Chapel, NC and Eliza Hacker of Wesley Chapel, NC; great-grandchildren Karson, Kanden, Cole and Donald; brothers Robert (Pearl) Lasher of Prescott, AZ and Butch (Margie) Lasher of Charleston, SC.
She was predeceased by her brother David Lasher.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 1 PM at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 South Main Street, Sherburne, NY 13460. Interment will follow in St. Malachy’s Cemetery. In honor of Mary Jane, those who wish to may wear her favorite color, red. At Mary Jane’s request a celebration of life will continue later in the day at the family’s camp. Those attending the celebration of life are asked to bring a chair. Please wear a face covering and understand social distancing and capacity guidelines will be in place. To leave a condolence or sign the book of memories, go to: www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com