Mary Jo Howell

Mary Jo Howell was born to sparkle, sass, and stir up joy—starting in Cheyenne, Wyoming on January 13, 1946, to Joseph Salvatore Catenzaro and Betty Jane Mair. She always had a sharp wit, a love of glitter, and no interest in blending in.

Mary Jo recently took her final bow. She was reunited—no doubt with a wink and a sassy remark—with her beloved husband, Charles Benjamen Howell, her dear sister, Nancy Bagley, and her oldest grandson, Jeremy Josley. They had better have saved her a good seat at bingo. She is survived by her siblings, Penny Echols, Rocky Catenzaro, and Robert Mair.

Mary Jo was an unstoppable woman wrapped in glitter. She answered to many names: Mom, Grandma, Oma, and GiGi. She raised six remarkable children—Deborah & Raymond Josley, Anthony Howell, Victoria & Lynn Hauserman, Peggy & Stephen Berger, Gerald Howell, and Carrie & Glen Burgess—and was the proud matriarch of a growing crowd of 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren who carry forward her legacy of laughter, strength, and joy. In addition to her family, she cherished many friendships, especially her card girls (Sammie, Pam, Kathy, and Cheryl).

All of her family and friends wish to thank Mary’s caregiving team at iCare Home Health & Hospice she worked with Karla Taylor, RN, and appreciated their support through all of her health challenges over the years.

Mary loved dancing, crafting, card games, bowling, destination cruises, and any excuse to gather, laugh, and celebrate life. Her dry wit could slice through tension like a hot knife through butter. Her fashion sense? Unforgettable. If it sparkled, she wore it—and wore it like royalty.

Mary was a strong woman. She faced life’s toughest battles—diabetes, lung cancer, colon cancer, and more—with grit, grace, and a stubborn refusal to let them steal her shine.

Not only did she survive those battles; she lived—loudly, boldly, and unapologetically. We’re all better for having known her, and the world is far brighter because she was in it.

Please raise a glass, tell a joke, play a hand of cards, or bedazzle something in her honor. That’s what Mary Jo would’ve wanted.

Join us at Mary’s Celebration of Life on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 12:30 PM at Memorial Murray Mortuary, 5850 South 900 East, Murray, Utah.