Mary Josephine Leighton

April 19, 1967 - March 7, 2022

LEIGHTON (nee KUBIS), Mary Josephine of Rumson, NJ passed away March 7, 2022 surrounded by family after a brief illness. An extraordinary woman who lived an exceptional life, Mary Jo was born April 19, 1967. She graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in 1985 and received an Associates Degree at Tobe Coburn School of Fashion in NYC after which she received her BA from Rider University where she was a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. The greatest joy and accomplishment in Mary Jo’s beautiful eyes was her stunning daughter, Sydney Leigh, the light of her life. Her world revolved around her family and she was the glue connecting everyone in her life. Her very best friends were her sister, her mother and her daughter. She loved to cook and was always an impeccable hostess, enjoying nothing more than entertaining friends and family whenever the opportunity presented. Mary Jo was mother to all, caring for and nurturing everyone as she would her own child regardless of whether they were family, friend or stranger. She was obsessed with her dog, Bruno, who was her constant companion and sidekick. She took pride in her home, decorating it to perfection with yard and planters always pristine. She loved to travel and enjoyed living near the ocean and beaches. Mary Jo spent her career as a mortgage loan originator working with the same company for over twenty-five years and where, in her typical nature, she made her colleagues and clients into good friends. She will be missed dearly by all who knew her and is survived by her beloved daughter, Sydney Leigh, her mother, Carole S. Kubis and her husband, Charles B. Stone, her father Michael F. Kubis and his wife, Phyllis, her sister and best friend, Stephanie Kubis Benedetto and her children, Olivia Jo Benedetto and Michael Christian Benedetto who affectionately called her their “Aunt Jonesy”, her step-brothers, Jeffrey Stigliano and his wife, Stacy, Michael Stigliano and his wife, Michelle. She leaves behind nieces and nephews Tyler, Taylor, and Victoria Leighton and David, Theresa, Philip, and Jacob Stigliano. Mary Jo is also survived by her ex-husband, Eric Leighton and his family, with whom she remained very close as well as many beloved cousins and countless of her adoring friends, colleagues and clients. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Bongarzone Funeral Home, 2400 Shafto Road, Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07712. The viewing hours are from 1:00-3:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm. A prayer service will be held at 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Jo’s name to the Monmouth County SPCA. A check can be sent to 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, NJ 07712 or using the link bit.ly/3sUE2mP For online condolences, please visit Mary Jo’s memorial page at www.bongarzonefuneralhome.com