Mary Jane Wood Zabinski

Mary Jane Wood Zabinski - Entrepreneur, World Traveler, Photographer, Animal Lover, and Beloved Sister

Born and raised in Niles, Michigan and a longtime resident of the Hilton Head area, Mary Jane died peacefully in Okatie, South Carolina. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jerome W. and Priscilla Barbary Wood, her sister Barbara Wood Cook of Niles, and her husband, Leo Zabinski. She is survived by her sister Carolyn Wood of Okatie, South Carolina.

After her sister received a Ph.D., she asked their mother, "Which of your three daughters is the smartest?" Priscilla responded without hesitation, "Oh, Mary Jane of course!" Her sister was taken back a bit, but then she had to agree. Mary Jane, who received a B.S. degree from Creighton University in Business Administration, became an entrepreneur and owner of several successful businesses. She was the owner and CEO of a Stretch & Sew Fabric Center in Worcester, MA and received awards from the national office for "Top Sales Performance in the New England region." When she moved to Hilton Head she established, developed and operated a new H&R Block franchise. She received awards for franchise growth and also became an Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service. After five years with H&R Block, she became the CEO of The Ledger Company, an agency that provided medical billing services to local hospitals, laboratories, and physicians, supervising 55 employees and billing over $10,000,000 annually for clients. She retired in 2009.

Mary Jane was a world traveler in every sense of the word. She traveled to 110 countries, many more than once. One of her favorite travel experiences was a two week visit to the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharmsala, India where she taught photography and multimedia development to children in the village. Mary Jane co-authored a 380-page travel book, Maximize Your Cruise and Destination Experience. Also, she and her sister created numerous multimedia travel presentations (containing photos, music, animation and movies) allowing viewers to literally feel the excitement involved in world travel.

Mary Jane grew up on a farm in Michigan surrounded by: ducks, peacocks, pigs, cattle, and many cats, dogs, and horses. As a teenager she was quite successful in showing Arabian horses around United States. One of her most exciting experiences was winning a 3-Gaited Stake Class when two professional trainers from other farms hoisted her to their shoulders in celebration. Her love of animals continued throughout her life as evidenced by her service on the Board of Directors of the Hilton Head Humane Association and becoming one of three founding members and President of the Spay/Neuter Alliance and Clinic (SNAC).

Committal for Mary Jane Wood Zabinski will be private, on the Wood Family lot in Sumnerville Cemetery, near Niles. Arrangements in Niles are being completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Arrangements in Okatie were completed at the Sauls Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Mary Jane's memory to your favorite charity or to Jasper Animal Rescue Mission, 1352 Carters Mill Rd, Ridgeland, SC 29936. Condolences may be sent to:

cjwoodnm@gmail.com

and shared at:

https://www.saulsfh.com/obituary/MaryJane-Zabinksi

or below at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Mary Jane was a very kind, caring, helpful, happy spirit, who was a blessing to many.

FINAL NOTE from Mary Jane's sister: While writing her obituary, I looked out the window and saw something I had never seen nor heard of before -- a unique black butterfly with white circles on its wings. I knew it was a sign from Mary Jane that she was and would continue to watch over me. I have since learned that black butterflies are symbols of transformation representing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Additionally, they personify spiritual protection and guidance from deceased love ones.