Mary Jane (Confrey) Bettencourt of Sandwich died peacefully at home on Sept. 25 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 72.

She was born in Newton in 1942, the eldest daughter of the late Phillip and Frances Confrey. She grew up in Cochituate, and was a graduate of Marian High School and Framingham State College where she earned her degree in education. Mary Jane began her teaching career in the town of Oxford. She spent her first summer hiatus with her college friends on Martha’s Vineyard, where she met her future husband.

Mary Jane married Bruce Bettencourt on August 15, 1967. They eventually settled in Sandwich, and raised two daughters. She was an eighth grade U.S. history teacher at the Middleboro Memorial Junior High School and then at the John T. Nichols Jr. Middle School before retiring in 2001 after 37 years in education.

She was proud of her Irish heritage, and was an avid reader who spent many of her days gardening and quilting. Her most enjoyable times were spent with her family and spoiling her three grandchildren.

Mary Jane is survived by her husband of 47 years Bruce Bettencourt, her daughters Catherine Bettencourt of Forestdale, Susan Chalker and her husband David of Mashpee; her siblings Martha Griffin of Wakefield, R.I., Peter Confrey of South Boston, and Timothy Confrey of Wayland; three grandchildren: Daniel Bettencourt, Camden and Lucy Chalker, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Susan Confrey, and will be missed by all who loved her.

Visitation will be held at the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, 74 Algonquin avenue, Route 151, in Mashpee on Thursday, Oct. 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Corpus Christi Parish, 324 Quaker Meeting House Road in Sandwich on Friday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary Jane to the Island Autism Group Inc., P.O. Box 2786, Edgartown, MA 02539. For online guest book and directions, please visit ccgfuneralhome.com.