Mary Joan (Seitzinger) O'Brian

Mary Joan “Mary Jo” (Seitzinger) O’Brian passed away peacefully at The Waters in Sullivan, IN on January 3, 2025 after a long illness with dementia.  She was born on March 21, 1932 at the farm home in Flat Rock, IL to Bertha Edith (Clark) Seitzinger and Leonard Eli Seitzinger.

Mary Jo’s educational background included 8 years at Montgomery School (1 room school house) 3 years at Flat Rock High School and graduated from Robinson High School, Robinson IL in 1950.  She received her R.N. Degree in 1953 from Union Hospital, Terre Haute, IN.  She worked in Obstetrics while continuing her education and earned her B.S. Degree in Nursing in March of 1957.  It was at Indiana State Teachers College she met her future husband James William O’Brian as he was working on his Masters of Education Degree. They were married on December 23, 1956 at the Flat Rock Methodist Church in Flat Rock, IL.  They established their home in Sullivan, IN as Jim was the Principal at Elm Park School in Sullivan.

Mary Jo’s professional career consisted of 35 combined years of private duty nursing at Mary Sherman Hospital in Sullivan and a nurse in the infirmary at Pfizer Corporation in Terre Haute, IN.   After the death of her husband Jim, she began working as the receptionist and then moved into the job of Accounts Payable Clerk at Pfizer’s.  Mary Jo also worked part-time at Lorene’s Dress Shop in Sullivan.

Mary Jo was an active member in the community.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sullivan where she enjoyed playing the bells.  She served as the President of Tri Kappa, was active in Mary Circle, Alpha Delphian and Sullivan County R.N. Club.  She also kept quite busy attending all the sporting and school events of her grandchildren, which she thoroughly enjoyed.  She loved taking bus trips with the bank and traveling abroad or cruising.  Mary Jo loved to sew and made many of her and her daughter’s clothes.  She taught her daughter to sew which was a catalyst for a career for her daughter.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, her brothers, Clark, Dwight, Vaughn, Coma, Grover, Vance and her sister Nedra. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Beth O’Brian-Mood of Bloomington, IN, her granddaughter Aliya; her grandson Logan (Bailey) and her great grandson Turner.

The family would like to thank all the caretakers at The Waters for their loving care and to Gentiva Hospice for the special care given to Mary Jo.  A private family memorial will be held.  We invite you to please privately celebrate Mary Jo’s memory in your own ways.