Mary Jane Taylor

Mary Jane Taylor née Sylvestre, the wife of Dale W. Taylor, U. S. Navy, ret. went to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 24, 2023, at the age of 88 after a lengthy illness. She is predeceased by her parents, Peggy and Tony Sylvestre, her sister Margaret (Peg married to Capt. Robert Simpson) and her stepdaughter, Sheri Cooper.

MJ was born in the Panama Canal Zone. At age 18, she married K C Smith, the father of her five children. She received her associate’s, degree while employed at NCACC then transferred to Cedar Crest College to complete a B.A. in Social Work. She then was employed as a caseworker at Northampton County Children and Youth. After receiving her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Marywood University, she became a unit supervisor. MJ loved her years of being a social worker. In the late 90s she married Dale Taylor, a former teenage sweetheart and retired, and they had many years of enjoying each other’s company and traveling together. Dale became her loving caretaker throughout her illness.

MJ was a lifelong Catholic and a member of St. Anne’s Church in Bethlehem. After her Catholic faith, the most important thing to her was being a mother. God blessed M J with five children: Karen C Smith-Kernc (Alan), Linda M. Watsula, R. Anthony Smith (Allison), James R. Sylvestre (Elaine), Jacqueline M. Catalanotto (Sean), and stepson Lance Taylor (Nancy). She also has seven grandchildren: Dana Lipson (Greg), Michael Watsula (Michelle), Dan Watsula (Jess), David Watsula (Kristin), TJ Buchanan (Kasi), Drew Smith (Lauren), Trevor and two step grandchildren, Emily Ashmore and Ryan Cooper, eight great-grandchildren; Kayla, Autumn, Jacob, Luke, Eryn, Wyatt, Cooper, newborn Billie, and three step great-granddaughters: Theresa, Shealyn and Sarah.

A viewing will be held on Friday, December 1st, at Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anne Catholic Church, 450 E. Washington Ave., Bethlehem. Interment will follow at Holy Saviour Cemetery, 2575 Linden St., Bethlehem