In the once hustling, bustling, thriving industrial northeastern city of Niagara Falls, New York, a town known for an astounding assortment of wonders whether worldly or man-made, another force of nature took form before a winter's thaw 1939.

It was on the promising heels of a long-anticipated spring '39 when along came Mary.

Born Mary Josephine Tankavich, simply known later as just (but definitely ' not-just-plain' ) Mary j Ward, she was the second daughter born to parents Victoria H. (Kozdranski) Tankavich and Joseph C. Tankavich. A third daughter completed their Niagara Falls household some twelve-years later.

Like most forces of nature, even the powerful awe-inspiring Falls of Niagara which has been shown capable of reduction to a mere trickle by man, the life and legacy that is Mary j Ward has found course fully run. On Wednesday, 11 December 2019, crossing over the threshold of humanly end and reaching towards a more heavenly horizon, extending just over 80-years came Mary.

Step aside Elvis, move on over Marilyn, make way James Dean - - there's a new additional soul on heaven's stage, a star in her own right; along enters Mary . . .

Along with Mary j's older and younger sister, Ms. Ward is survived by her three children: Deborah (eldest), Michael and Michelle (youngest). Additionally there is the last in a life-long line of treasured animal companions, her beloved cat named Snickers. With a resplendently ' out-there ' presence which could even upstage Elvis, evocative glamour and daring sartorial eloquence second only to Ms. Monroe, and of course a young, seemingly untamable, any-night's-alright rebellious spirit equal to Mr. James Dean - definitely proving herself ' With a Cause ' was Mary.

Mary's ' Cause ' was her three children. Across her life, Ms. Mary j found herself fighting hard to retain that rebel-earned ' Leader of her Pack ' status. Through expectations stereotypical to the time, like so many other women entering adulthood, she pursued the 1960's all-American quintessential dream of raising a suburban family with promise of a better life. Nevertheless. like many households, the family-unit was challenged by ever-increasing realities of the day. Spanning past hopeful landscapes of space-race era, preceded nonetheless on heightened heels of Cold War doom & gloom ideology, ' drop and cover ' mentality, through and through it all . . . along persisted Mary.

There were other causes as well. Even before departing original home city to all 03-children, Erie, PA,  Mary j proved deeper than the just one-dimensional flash, razzle-dazzle panache seen as the only identifier by the public's eye. Often without highlight, Mary had a tight group of acquaintances that she would help in any way possible. Whether a married wife whose son returned alive but badly scarred from Vietnam, the parents whose two daughters were wheelchair-bound due to severe multiple-sclerosis, the single-mother providing for her sole son by working hard late into evenings proving she truly was one of the world's best waitresses, many found a certain comfort and benefit from efforts espoused by Mary.

This included an array of charitable donations. One specific was a local Catholic charity which fostered Mary j's family sponsorship for an orphaned Korean child named O Hun Yun. Like close-family, distant-relatives and everyday friends who found consistency with Mary j's written correspondence by both simple letters, postcards and nostalgic hallmark cards, that overseas Korean foster girl was no different.

All that stated, serving role as single-parent herself is where Mary j was proudest. In the late 1970's, at Mary's height of epitome, the rebel along with her ' Cause ' proved not only is ' Virginia for Lovers ', but Virginia was indeed home for Mary j and kids. Having unapologetically risked her life for those kids, Mary j doubled-down on commitment towards children, spending the last 40-years at peace and as a survivor. When Mary j departed Erie, she left behind not only annual, signature lake-effect snow, but elements even more harsh. Having realized a resurgence in previously quashed self-confidence, newly found liberation and freedom, crossing south of the Mason-Dixon Line, along ventured Mary.

As one would expect there also came difference for the soundtrack that was Mary j over the years. There's no hiding that across the 50's and 60's when young women of a certain age were almost expected to swoon to the sways and swagger of certain male singers whether Elvis or Tom Jones, along went Mary. But then as times changed with the 1970's revolution of female-power rising paralleled by the emergence of more and more women entering the workforce in the 1980's, along evolved Mary.

With amped-up high-octane disco-beats seemingly appropriately perfect for the time like ' I Will Survive ' to the slightly coarser ' She Works Hard for the Money ' proudly sounding as anthems from her FM-radio of trusted Chevy Nova dubbed ' Goldie ', there was never a doubt, when along sped Mary.

Throughout the decades, Mary j demonstrated she was not just with heart of glass, but with a knack for numbers working as Bookkeeper for Covington & Burling in Washington D.C. and GTSI in Chantilly, VA. Once again Mary j proved herself dedicated to not only job, but those like her in need of some support. And while there was another passing the same week as that of Mary j Ward, a person perhaps less infamous as she, yet more famous given their introduction to the world for the social media phenomenon ' Ice Bucket challenge' , both courage and ferocity came from a long-resilient Mary.

In her final months, with her signature brand of never-ending ' show-woman-ship ' already long-laid to rest that once included (but not limited to) Rhinestone encrusted high-heeled shoes, bright colored-furs and brighter colloured-hair, wigs, more WIGS, and EVEN MORE WIGS, along with a couple of hidden D-cell batteries powering up those illuminated (but miniaturized) chandeliers swaying off never-pierced ears - - life's greatest challenge for finding peace of mind was successfully fulfilled by Mary.

Even in her last months came three final feats accomplished by Mary :

Mary managed to outlive that other 'Maria'.

Mary was able to bring together again all of her three children.

Mary proved herself a cunningly skillful card player, beating her kids at age 80.

From portrait of a picture-perfect family to the harder to hide appearances of increasingly challenged household, there was one thing clear - in the end, Mary j found her true self. She was capable of simplicity, enjoying basics of life so often taken for granted like time relaxing outside. Mary j relished both Virginia heat and humidity with ease while others languished. If there was one thing more preferred than basking in the sun, it was enabling rediscovering & reuniting of her children. For that, kids were made whole, gratitude made deeper, smiles made brighter, laughter made louder and the world made better because of Mary.

After all, the world would neither have known or been challenged by the likes of Deborah, Michael and Michelle if not along came Mary . . .