Mary Hyra

Mary Hyra, age 95, Jamestown, ND, formerly Hillside, NJ, passed gently into her final rest on April 12, 2013, at home in Jamestown.

Mary Spack was born February 24, 1918, in Yonkers, NY, to William and Mary Romanyshyn Spack. She adored her younger brothers, William and Edward Spack, whom she helped raise and of whom she was very proud. She was baptized and confirmed in the Russian Orthodox Church and attended public school in Yonkers. A brilliant and hardworking student, she graduated high school at age 16 and entered nursing school at Cochran School of Nursing, Yonkers, graduating in 1938. She worked as a nurse and later became a nursing supervisor and instructor at Margret Hague Maternity Hospital in Jersey City, NJ.

In 1944 Mary married Jacob ?Jack? Hyra. They settled in Hillside New Jersey, after which she left nursing to become a homemaker. She was a loving and devoted mother to her two daughters, Evalynn Hyra, Tryon, North Carolina, and Jacqueline Hyra, Jamestown.

She was an active member of St. John?s Episcopal Church, the Hillside Parent Teacher Association and the Hillside Scholarship Fund. She enjoyed singing in the PTA and church choirs, sewing, crocheting, doing puzzles and reading.

The couple enjoyed traveling to visit their children and going on cruises each winter. They were delighted when their granddaughter, Amy Schutt, Minneapolis, MN was born. Jack passed away in 1988.

Mary suffered a stroke in 2005 and moved to Jamestown to live with her daughter, Jackie, son-in-law, William Schutt and granddaughter Amy on their ranch. She loved living in the country, seeing all the plants and animals. Although speaking was difficult for her, she often commented on how beautiful everything was.

She attended First Congregational United Church of Christ, Jamestown, and especially enjoyed coffee fellowship with the church ladies. She also loved going out to lunch, coffee or shopping with Jackie. Yearly trips to New Mexico to visit her brother Bill were a highlight of her new life.

Mary was known for her beautiful smile, which unfailingly evoked smiles from everyone who saw her. In spite of her physical challenges, she was very happy.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister, Anne, her brother Ed and her husband. She leaves behind her brother Bill, sister-in-law, Barbara Spack, Phoenix, AZ, her daughters, Jackie and Evalynn, son-in-law Bill, granddaughter, Amy, and many nieces and nephews, of whom she was very fond.

She will be fondly remembered and missed by all who knew her.