Mary Jane Cameron

Mary Jane Cameron, age 86, died on January 11, 2022 at Madonna Towers in Rochester, MN. She was born on December 8, 1935, the only child of Joseph and Kathryn (Grahek) Klun in Ely, MN. Both her parents were descended from Slovenian-Croatian immigrants who came to America between 1888-1900. Mary Jane attended Washington Elementary school, followed by Ely Junior High school and Memorial High school, graduating in the top 10% of her class. She participated in speech, chorus, Thespians, and school plays. She was proud to play the roles of Aunt Jenny in "I Remember Momma" and the old woman in "The Slave with Two Faces" which took Honors at the State One Act Play contest in 1953. She continued her education at Marquette University in Milwaukee before transferring to the University of Minnesota earning her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology degree with honors. In 1971, she returned to school and obtained a Master of Science degree while working in Microbiology and Immunology. Mary Jane met Alan Cameron, a Mayo Clinic physician from England at a party and he proposed soon after. On May 18, 1968, she happily married the love of her life, Alan Cameron, at St. Anthony's Church in Ely, MN. The two of them had two children, Douglas and Kathryn. She was a very hard worker throughout her career, working at St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Paul Regional Blood Center, the U of MN in laboratory medicine as a staff technician and assistant professor, Mayo Clinic as a technologist in Allergy and Immunology, and also at Rochester Community and Technical College teaching the Medical Laboratory Technician program and following through with the program accreditation process. She was a very conscientious, kind, hardworking individual who could see what tasks needed to be done, organize them, and see them through to completion. Mary Jane was the founder and chairperson of the Minnesota Medical Technologists Association with 700 members. She had an annual meeting of 120 members of this association which she organized at the Kahler Hotel every spring. Mary Jane and Alan enjoyed traveling and visiting Slovenia to see her family tomb stone there. They often made the 300+ mile drive to visit Mary Jane's parents who ran a tavern in Ely. Aside from working in healthcare, Mary Jane's hobbies included being active in church, Adult Faith Formation, scripture study, and was commissioned as a Lay Minister for the Diocese of Winona in 2009. She was a member of The Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church in Rochester. She also enjoyed ladies' fashion and loved getting together with friends to try on the clothing from Doncaster and Tanner, a line she sold from 1983-2000 after retiring from teaching. Mary Jane wrote "Thanks to those who came before me for their contribution toward my life and making it meaningful. I am in your debt and grateful to you. Thanks to my wonderful husband and children whose love was always forthcoming. Thanks to Nick and Rhett to be their grandma." Mary Jane is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Alan; her children, Douglas (Carrie) Cameron and Kathryn Cameron; and her grandchildren, Nicholas and Rhett. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am Monday, January 17, 2022 at Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church (1600 11th Ave SE, Rochester, MN 55904). Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, MN. Memorials may be made to Diocese of Winona, institute of Lay Ministry; Church of Resurrection, adult Faith Formation; Food for the Poor Charity; or St Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Cameron family; to share a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com