Mary Jane Pfister

Mary Jane (Townsend) Pfister, 87, passed away on July 26, 2026. She was born on March 3, 1939 in Evansville to the late Walter and Catherine (Barthel) Townsend. Mary Jane was married to James Pfister, mother of eight children, grandmother of 22 children, and great-grandmother of 28 children.

Mary Jane was a graduate of Mater Dei class of 1957. After raising their eight children, she attended University of Evansville and graduated first in her class with a degree in Nursing. She retired from Deaconess Hospital.

Mary Jane was a lifelong Catholic and a member of Saint Benedict Cathedral.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Suzanne (Ray, living) Lohrer, Carolyn (Bobby) Allen, Judy (Tom) Mulherin, Sarah (Ron) Tepool, Joan (Gerald, “Red”) Seib, infant siblings, Richard, Thomas, and Rita; son-in-law, Greg Franklin; brother-in-law, Donnie Seibert; sister-in-law, Phyllis (Gene) Culiver; Jim’s parents, Alfred and Eloise Pfister; and Jim and Mary Jane’s grandchildren, Kayla Marie Booth and Jeffrey Richard Pfister.

She is survived by her husband Jim of 68 years; children, Greg, Fr. John, Alex, Richard (Sandy), Daniel (Angie), and Chris (Tammi) Pfister, Lisa (Darryl) Williams and Ellen (Steve) Wilderman; and her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary Jane is also survived by siblings, Dan (Katie), Michael (Mary Jo) and David (Lynna) Townsend and Kathy Seibert; as well as her in-laws, Bob and Ann Scarafia, along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation for Mary Jane was Friday, July 31, 2026 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 South Hebron Avenue, Evansville including a service and Rosary at 6 p.m. Visitation continued at Saint Boniface Parish, Saint Boniface Church, 418 North Wabash Avenue, Evansville on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., co-celebrated by Father Christopher Droste and Father Alex Zenthoefer.

Interment followed at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Evansville, Ind.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Boniface Parish, 418 North Wabash Avenue, Evansville, IN 47712.