Mary Jane Keriakos

April 18, 1938

July 1, 2024

On July 1st, 2024, Mary Jane Keriakos, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, began her eternal life in heaven at the age of 86. She had a lifelong passion for music, style, French life, travel, and her family. 

Mary Jane was born in Gary, Indiana. She was the only child of Steve and Paula Delardos. She was raised in a close-knit Greek community. At the young age of six, Mary Jane learned to play the piano as well as speak English in addition to her native Greek. She discovered at this young age that piano was one of her first great loves. She graduated from Horace Mann High School in Gary, Indiana. She went on to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and became an accomplished pianist. In 1958, Mary Jane married and moved to Washington, DC. She attended Catholic University and received a BA in Piano. She enjoyed playing classical music and teaching piano lessons on her beloved Steinway Grand piano.

In later years, Mary Jane developed an interest in law. She took paralegal courses at George Washington University and then went on to earn her law degree in 1974 at the Potomac School of Law in Washington, DC. She moved to Annapolis, MD, to start a law practice in general and Maritime law. She resided and worked in Annapolis for 20 years. 

Mary Jane dreamed of seaside living and continuing her law practice in Florida. She moved to South Hutchinson Island, Florida where she practiced Estate Planning and Probate Administration from 2003 to 2019. She excelled at providing law services to anyone in need.

Mary Jane was actively involved in her communities and made many loving friends where ever she lived. She participated in Kiwanis, Rotary Club, ushered at the Sunrise Theatre in Ft. Pierce, FL, and volunteered in supportive community based programs. She attended the Community Church of Vero Beach drawn by the worship, fellowship and the abundant music. Mary Jane is lovingly remembered by her friends for her love of ballroom dancing. Her favorite dance was the Tango with its intricate footwork. She also loved traveling with family and friends throughout her life. It would be remiss to exclude her obsession for all things French. She enjoyed visiting Paris, learning the French language, reading books about France, and eating french desserts.

Mary Jane moved to Colorado Springs in 2021 “to escape the hurricanes and live with family”. Family was another of Mary Jane’s greatest loves. Family meant the world to her and kept her going through her illnesses. She spent her last years surrounded by her daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Mary Jane with her former husband, Van Keriakos, raised three loving daughters in Reston, Virginia. She is survived by her children, Susan Lewis (Jon), Colorado Springs, CO, Paula Veevers, Tucson, AZ and Vanessa Reyda (Vince), Middletown, RI. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Mary Jane will be interred with her parents in Arlington, Virginia. There will be a private graveside service as well as a gathering for friends and family in Florida, dates to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Community Church of Vero Beach, Florida or Sunrise Theatre, Fort Pierce, Florida in her memory. One of Mary Jane’s favorite Bible verses was “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”1 John 4:7 NIV