Mary Jo Concidine

Mary Jo Concidine, 97, of Bridgman, passed away Friday, February 19, 2010 at Woodland Terrace in Bridgman. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice at Home. Those wishing to sign the memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mary Jo was born September 16, 1912 in San Augustine, TX to Joseph & Frances (Slaughter) Miller and was forever a southern bell. She graduated from college at the age of 17 and began a long successful teaching career. In 1939, she moved to Chicago to teach and there she met her soon to be husband, Jerry. After they were married, she could no longer teach, being a married woman, so she began working at Sears Corporation in Chicago where she developed training procedures and manuals which were used nation wide. After her children were in school, she returned to her teaching career in Glenview, IL. She retired from the junior high there in 1972. She and Jerry had many wonderful retirement years together traveling during the winters and enjoying their lake home in Dowagiac. After Jerry's death in 2000, Mary Jo moved to Woodland Terrace in Bridgman. She enjoyed playing bridge, discussing politics and following sports. She was well read, well informed, and loved to share her opinion. Mary Jo is survived by her daughter Cathy Koeppe of St. Joseph; son Jim (Donna) Concidine of Broaddus, TX; four grandchildren Kristy Koeppe of Bridgman MI, Jason (Jennifer) Koeppe of Stevensville, MI, Steven (Olga) Mellor of Bellingham, WA, and William Concidine of Seabrook, TX; four great grandchildren Emma & Evin Koeppe, Elizabeth & Alexandra Mellor. Mary Jo was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, parents, three sisters Vera Hanks, Melba Gamble and Ruth Davis; brother Joseph Miller.