Mogavero, Mary Jane Oral History

Mogavero_MaryJane

"Mary Jane Whitesell ""Jari"" Mogavero was born on October 27, 1924 in Lowell, Maine. Her parents were Mary Louise (King) and Gamaliel ""Gay"" Whitesell. Her father was a trained construction engineer and considered himself as a ""jack of all trades"". Her mother was a housewife but had taught school prior to being marred. Mary Jane had two sisters. Mary Jane moved to West Virginia as a young girl and was a graduate of Kingwood High School and attended Potomac State College of West Virginia University studying pre-med. Mary Jane joined the Navy (WAVES) in November 1944 and served as a Pharmacist 1st class at Bethesda and Bainbridge Naval Hospitals during World War II. After her discharge in 1947, Mary Jane continued her studies at Columbia University Presbyterian Hospital School f Nursing, graduating in 1949. She was employed as a RN at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, NY and then the University of Cincinnati, Wyoming Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH. While living in Cincinnati, Mary Jane took postgraduate classes at Xavier University. Mary Jane was married for 58 years to Arcangelo Anthony (Arch) Mogavero. They had five children. When asked, Mary Jane remarked that she would have never have changed her decision to enlist into the Navy. She is proud to be a long time member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mary Jane died at the age of 96 years old on November 3, 2012. Mary Jane (Whitesell) Mogavero- 1st class Pharmacist Mate, WWII Service dates: 1944 -1946 Bethesda Naval Station Hospital Bainbridge Naval Hospital Medals: American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal "