Mary Jane Brust, 91 of Ocean Isle Beach, NC died February 27th, 2025. She was born in Queens, NY on January 13th, 1934, a daughter of the late Gustave Vellek and Mary Veronica Harper Vellek. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Joseph Vincent Brust, her sister, Jacquelyn Burkardt (William) and her brother, Michael Vellek (Janet). 

Throughout her 91 years of life, she enjoyed many hobbies, including sewing handmade clothes for her daughters, serving as a Girl Scout leader, golf with her husband, gardening, cross-stitch and needle work and serving as one of the first volunteers at the OIB museum. In her later years, she truly enjoyed her daily dip in the canal and sip of her wine spritzer. 

She is survived by her daughters, Susan Dunseath (James), Jacquelyn Stegeland (Michael), Cynthia McCartney (Mark), Mary Phillips (Brian), Jennifer Thomas (Charles), Laura Nassim-Sobhan (Nader), and Alison Hatzopoulos (Joseph), eighteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.

A mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Thursday, March 27th, 2025 at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Shallotte, NC where she was an active parishioner. Inurnment will follow in the church columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Mary Jane to Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach, NC, an organization dedicated to inspiring curiosity about our coastal environment and the broader natural universe through experiences that are educational, science-based, fun and interactive.