Mary Jane Marvel

Mary Jane Stiles Marvel, 82, passed away peacefully on May 28th at Hope Health Hospice & Palliative Care in Providence, Rhode Island after a lengthy illness. She was the wife of Robert Marvel, Jr., known as Robin, and they would have been married 59 years this October.

Born In East Orange, New Jersey on September 19, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Mary Elizabeth Gordon and Dr. Clarence Campbell Stiles. The youngest of three children, she was predeceased by her sister Phoebe Ann King and her brother Charles G. Stiles. She and her family spent many happy summers in Bay Head, NJ. Mary Jane attended The Beard School and later graduated from The Kent Place School. In 1961, she received a BA in Art History from Connecticut College.

Mary Jane moved to New York City and worked as a medical secretary at Cornell Medical Center. She met Robin shortly after he completed active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. They were married on October 12, 1963 and settled in Short Hills, NJ. After spending many summers in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, they moved there permanently in 1984.

Mary Jane had a passion for Russian History and enjoyed travelling to the country on a few occasions. She cherished her collection of books on Czarist Russia. Her other interests included gardening, playing bridge, reading, and spending time at the beach. Mary Jane and her family enjoyed spending time at The Misquamicut Club, the Ocean House, the Watch Hill Yacht Club and the Weekapaug Golf Club. She and Robin also enjoyed spending winters in Boca Grande, Florida at the Boca Grande Club.

The family wishes to thank Sharon, Jamie, Darlene, and Rachel for their wonderful care of Mary Jane over the past five years.

Mary Jane is survived by her loving husband as well as her daughter Jennifer V. Marvel and her husband Steven Spear of Boston, MA, and her son H. Jackson Marvel and his wife Melissa Snowden Marvel of Barrington, RI. She adored her four grandchildren Connor, Campbell, Grant, and Stiles.

Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com.