Mary Jane Gard

SING ME TO HEAVEN

Mary Jane Orban was born in 1931 on the family farm in Dalton, Iowa, the youngest of four girls. They moved to LeMars and continued farming. She attended St. Joseph School and High School, graduating in 1949. She sang everywhere: school, church, weddings, funerals, recitals, and was a finalist in the New York Metropolitan Young Artist competition. She attended Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa, and earned a B.A. in Music in 1953.

In June 1954, she married Wayne Gard, the other music name in LeMars. They moved to Ann Arbor where Wayne got his Master of Music degree, and where Rick was born in 1955. The family was on the move, this time to California for Wayne’s job as the Bakersfield High School choral director. As Rick started kindergarten, Mary Jane was busy performing, with rehearsals at the house and variety shows to produce. Steve and Chuck were born in 1957 and 1960.

In 1961, Wayne took the choral job at Long Beach City College. They quickly immersed themselves in the music scene: two Catholic church choirs to regularly conduct, Wayne active with the Long Beach Municipal Band and opera orchestra, Mary Jane singing leads with the Long Beach Civic Light Opera and Mozart opera roles. As if those weren’t enough, Mary Jane was the driving force for St. Cyprian School talent shows and choirs; and for both there was a steady stream of performing at funerals and weddings – more songs for heaven.

While the Long Beach music scene bubbled with Mary Jane’s voice and laughter, the children also doubled: Ted was born in 1963, Ruth in 1964, and Rosemary in 1966. By 1968, clearly a larger house was needed and the family moved to Fleethaven Road. Mary Jane with the growing number of teams and ensembles, cats to feed, and her performing, still made time for baking, cooking, cleaning, and advocating for Ted, so he could earn his high school diploma and get a job. Everyone, including Mary Jane, was surprised in 1974 with the birth of Marisa, but not even a seventh child could slow Mary Jane; she usually worked until midnight.

Wayne left the college in 1978 to start Gard’s Music in Glendora. Mary Jane once more followed him to this new enterprise, learning to handle retail sales and a computerized rental payments system. She became a fixture at the store with her easy laugh and dry humor.

The music store was a fantastic success, and eventually Mary Jane retired from daily business. Children moved and married; 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren added to the family.

Mary Jane’s health declined, and Wayne passed away in 2012, but no matter how tired or pained, no matter how confused, she still cared for Ted every day. Even in the depths of dementia, she could still laugh, heckle performers, and sing in tune. Not even Alzheimer’s could stop her from singing and singing, singing to heaven. We hope to hear her again someday.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents Alphonse and Rose Orban, sisters Evelyn, Loretta, and Lois, husband Wayne, and many beloved friends and relatives.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401