Mary Jane DePriest O'Brien, Age 85, a native of St. Louis, Missouri and a longtime resident of Mobile, Alabama died Monday, March 30, 2026 at her residence. Mary Jane spent her childhood years in St. Louis, Missouri. She moved to Mobile, Alabama when she was just a teenager. She received a business degree and started working for the Mobile Police Department where she met her husband. She was a longtime employee of Mobile Paper Board and retired in 2002. She was an active member of Little Flower Catholic Church. She volunteered at Little Flower Catholic School for many years. She enjoyed doing etiquette classes with the 8th grade students. Mary Jane was best known for her love and care for others. She devoted her entire life to her children and grandchildren. She had a passion and gift for cooking, and you could not visit her home without being fed. She had a knack for making everyone feel special. Mary Jane was an avid prayer warrior. She began everyday with prayer. She had a fearless and inspiring love for Jesus which radiated to all who were blessed to know her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph William O'Brien, Sr.; sons, Jeffrey Joseph O'Brien (Susie), and Joseph William O'Brien, Jr. (Tracy); granddaughter, Macy O'Brien; grandson, Jake Blackstock; mother, Eleanor V. Lawton DePriest; father, Lee E. DePriest; and brother, Lawton L. DePriest. Mary Jane is survived by her children, Teresa O'Brien, John O'Brien, Jason O'Brien (Gennifer), Kelly Poole (Brian), and James O'Brien (Elizabeth); her grandchildren, Aimee Reynolds (Jeremy), Brian Nethery (Peggy), Beth Morris, Ashley O'Brien Larson, Katey Crum (Connor), Lee O'Brien (Sarah), Jake O'Brien (Sierra), Cassy O'Brien, Josh O'Brien, Heather Walter (Jason), Faith Marlowe (Paul), Austin Poole (Kyle), Joseph Poole (Kayla), Altas Poole (Margaret), Jordan Poole (Lexie), Julien Poole (Morgan), Blake Poole (Samantha), Jonathon O'Brien (Kaitlyn), and Jenna O'Brien; 43 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, one sister, Eleanor Trautweiler; countless cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. A special thank you to Brian Poole and Susie O'Brien for their assistance with her care.
September 22, 1940 - March 30, 2026
The Rosary will be recited at 11:30 A.M. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Little Flower Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 12:00 Noon until 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday at Little Flower Catholic Church with the Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 1:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Little Flower Catholic School, 2053 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama 36606. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by Ascension Funeral Home, 1016 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, Alabama 36695.
