September 16, 1955 - October 3, 2023
Mary Jo, age 68, died peacefully in her sleep at home on October 3, 2023. Mary Jo was the second oldest child of Shirley and William Lash Sr. She graduated from Northwest High School in 1973, afterwards earning a degree from UNO and a law degree from Creighton University. Mary Jo became a surrogate mother to her preteen sister, Genevieve, after their mother died. Mary Jo and Genevieve continued a family tradition of yearly trips to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado from their childhood on, and had just returned from Estes Park the week before Mary Jo's passing. On this recent trip, Mary Jo was able to spend several days in a mountain lodge with Genevieve and her beloved brother, Bill Jr., driving up winding Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park at sunset, with Mary Jo asking Genevieve to turn up the volume when a favorite song played. One of her favorite songs was "Desperado" by The Eagles. Ill health kept Mary Jo from working in her final years, but she still enjoyed reading mysteries, often completing a book in a day, and rooting on the Huskers football team. Mary Jo loved homemade chocolate chip cookies, Big Fred's pizza, and Mountain Dew (or "nectar of the gods," as she called it). Back in the 1960s, after family drives in the country, Mary Jo's favorite treat was a Dilly Bar from Dairy Queen. Mary Jo read the newspaper daily, and watched local and national news on TV each evening, keeping abreast of politics. Mary Jo was a proud liberal and didn't care who knew it. Mary Jo never married. She was blessed with a select group of wonderful friends, including Kim (Waldo) Broyles of Ord, Nebraska; Jay and Andria Copple of Berthoud, Colorado; Julie (Cold) Kissack of Arkansas; and Heather Smalley of Omaha, among others.
Mary Jo was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley (Marshall) Lash; father, William Lash Sr.; and brother, Michael Lash. She is survived by brother, William Lash Jr.; sister, Genevieve Lash; brother-in-law, Joe Janowski; niece, Rachel Lash; and her much-loved cats.
No services.
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