Mary Jo Chojnowski

Mary Jo Chojnowski (McNutt) passed away on October 5, 2025, in Lafayette, CO. She was born to Don and Mary McNutt at St. Vincent’s hospital in Toledo, OH on April 26, 1942. Mary Jo grew up in Toledo and attended DeVilbiss High School. During the summers of her youth, the family spent time at the cottage her father built on Vineyard Lake in Brooklyn, MI. As the third of four children, Mary Jo exercised her voice often to ensure she was heard: a skill she used throughout her life to make many friends. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Wittenberg University, where she was also a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, and later nearly completed coursework towards Master’s in Education before dedicating her time to raising her family. She was 17 times a bridesmaid, which spoke to the connection she made with so many. Mary Jo met the love of her life, Larry, in 1964 in Midland, Michigan, where he was participating in new-hire training at Dow Chemical and she was teaching at an elementary school. Larry and Mary Jo married on July 20th, 1968 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio and lived in Kalamazoo, MI, Park Ridge, IL, and Rochester, MI before moving to Colorado in 1974 to raise their family and live out their years together.

Mary Jo was adept at being a mother to three active children with varying interests. She essentially ran a gratis shuttle service that frequented soccer fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, hockey rinks (often early in the mornings and late in the evenings), gymnastics/dance centers, choir auditoriums, church functions, golf courses, motocross tracks (yes, she towed a trailer behind the woody station wagon), ski areas, and, occasionally, her son’s paper route. Her shuttle routes often included a stop at 7/11 for Slurpees and other favorite treats of the kids. She was loving and steady and always there when anyone needed her. You never felt like you were getting anything other than her full attention.

When her grandchildren arrived, four boys in all, Mary Jo actively embraced the role of ‘Nana,’ spending time with the kids talking and playing games, taking them on trips to the fire department to see the fire engines, heading to the driving range to hit golf balls together, taking walks, or just putting in quality time with them. Mary Jo spent a lot of time with Larry at Perry Park Country Club, getting in rounds of golf together and adding a hole-in-one for good measure. She also enjoyed taking bike rides, going on walks, and traveling back to the Midwest to spend time with family in Michigan and Ohio. Mary Jo stayed in contact with her sorority sisters over the years, organizing many reunion trips to different destinations.

Mary Jo and Larry were active members of their local church wherever they lived, first helping as youth ministers at Park Ridge Presbyterian Church as a young married couple. They tutored and mentored at-risk youth through the Whiz Kids program in Denver in the early 2000s. Later, Mary Jo gave her time at local libraries and her church, where she looked after toddlers while their mothers worshipped. Mary Jo and Larry enjoyed traveling together and counted their trips to Germany and New Zealand as their favorites. Mary Jo was a partner to Larry in every aspect, not only in raising their kids but also working beside him on various business endeavors.

Mary Jo is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years and her parents. She is survived by her siblings, Sandy Hayes; John (Anne) McNutt; Pam (Bob) Lesko; three kids, Kristi (Drew) Ross, Bryan, and Jill (Josh) Felix; and four grandchildren, Cole & Peter Ross and Isaac & Hudson Felix.

A deepest thank you to the caregivers at Landmark Memory Care in Lafayette, CO. Your loving care, kindness, and connection with Mary Jo and the entire family were sincerely appreciated.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, October 22nd at 11:00am at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home, 9998 Grant Street Thornton, CO 80229 with a reception immediately following. Burial will take place at Broomfield County Commons Cemetery.

Donations in Mary Jo’s memory may be made to Summit Ministries: Online: https://www.summit.org/give/ or by mail at Address: Summit Ministries 941 Osage Ave Manitou Springs, CO 80829 TID: 730792333