Mary Jane Aldridge, age 55 of West Haven passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at her home with her loving family by her side. She was the beloved wife of Thomas Aldridge for 28 years. Mary was born in Bridgeport on January 2, 1968, the daughter of the late Arthur and Marcella Kirk Barker and the late Larry Barker.

She grew up in Stratford. She received her bachelor's degree in nursing and had worked at Bridgeport Hospital for many years in the cardiac catheter lab. The last few years she worked in a busy cardiac office at Northeast Medical Group in Trumbull. Mary was a dedicated nurse and her care and compassion towards her patients, coworkers and peers that she mentored in the nursing field truly shined through. Mary loved the beach and was always the first one in the ocean no matter how cold the water was. Mary was deeply devoted to her faith, teaching Sunday school, attending bible studies and playing the bass guitar during Sunday services at Haven of Hope Church in Hamden. You could never depart ways without everyone joining hands in prayer. Mary was truly at her happiest whether it was just spending time with her family playing Rummy 500, watching a Yankee's game, or watching movies. Mary was an exemplary human being. During her courageous battle with melanoma, she never once complained. Those who knew her well, knew how deeply she loved and cared for others. She had the most genuine soul and would be there in a heartbeat for anyone no matter what the circumstances, with open loving arms.

In addition to her husband Thomas, she is survived by her son, Thomas Aldridge II. She was a devoted wife and mother and was extremely proud of her son Tommy for becoming a US Marine. She is also survived by her siblings Gloria Patterson, Thomas Barker, Bridget Lovell, Paul Story and April Barker, her stepmother Holly Byrne, her mother in-law Betty Aldridge and several loved sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law in Virginia. "Janie" will be sadly missed by several nieces, nephews and cousins, especially her cousins, Lisa Ashmore and Michelle Colonna, whom she shared a lifetime bond with.

Funeral services will take place on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 12:00 pm at the Dennis & D'Arcy – Abriola & Kelemen Funeral Home, 2611 Main Street, Stratford, with Pastor Chris Gilbert of Haven of Hope Church officiating.  Interment will follow in Union Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may greet the family on Monday morning from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Melanoma Research & Awareness at www.Melanoma.org. To offer the family condolences please visit www.dennisanddarcy.com