Mary Hope (Luft) Gustafson passed away peacefully in her home in Ocean City NJ on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
A Christian Service for Mary and a celebration of her life will be held at St John Lutheran Church in Ocean City on February 9 at 12 noon.
Mary was born in New Orleans on August 15, 1948 to proud parents Jay Louis Luft(deceased) and Juanita (Smith) Luft(deceased). Mary lived in nearby Gretna, graduating from West Jefferson High School in 1966. She worked in Data Processing for Shell Oil in New Orleans and Houston. She married Eric Gustafson on February 9, 1973 in Algiers, LA, notably during a rare and significant snowstorm. Mary transitioned to mother and homemaker for sons Andrew (1976-Buras LA), Douglas (1978-Buras, LA), and Audra (1982 – Houston TX). Mary was the proud Nana of Grandsons Reid (parents Douglas and Bridget Kelly Gustafson) and Lukas (parents Andrew and Beth Ann Woolslayer Gustafson) and Granddaughter Ella (Douglas and Bridget), and Granddaughters Cayleigh, Julianna, and Madilynn (Audra and Derek DiStefano). Following her time spent in Buras, LA and Houston, TX, she and the family lived in Mechanicsburg, PA and Macungie, PA. In 1991 she graduated from Lehigh County Community College with an Associate Degree as a Certified Medical Assistant. She worked approximately 10 years at Dr. Bub’s office in Emmaus, PA, before retiring and moving to Ocean City.
Mary enjoyed snow skiing, ice skating, water sports, bowling, tennis and golf. She enjoyed crafting. Her magic with seafood, Cajun, and other Creole fare was dazzling. She enjoyed traveling on land in the US and abroad, on small cruise ships and on the boat she shared with Eric. Immensely proud of her children and grandchildren, she liked working hard and then having a good time with family and friends alike, keeping all loose with her sarcastic and simultaneously sweet wit.
Her funeral service will be Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 12 o’clock noon at St John Lutheran Church, 10th Street at Central Avenue, Ocean City, NJ. The family will be hosting a luncheon immediately following the service at their Ocean City residence. For condolences to the family, visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com
