Mary Decia Skarstedt, age 73 of Newfield, New Jersey, passed away at home on Monday, 19 March 2018.

Decia, the name she always went by, was born in Portland Maine to James Henry and Eulalie (Dugas) May. Her family moved frequently during her childhood because of Decia's severe asthma, a condition she dealt with throughout her life. She graduated from Oneonta State University in New York with a bachelor's degree in geology and met Mark T. Skarstedt, her eventual husband of 49 years, during his graduate work at the University of Miami, in Coral Gables, Florida. They were married on 20 December 1969.

Decia was a faithful and thoughtful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, into which she and her husband were baptized on 20 January 1979. She loved the Scriptures and had an intriguing way of understanding them. She also loved gardening, genealogical research, asking people about themselves unexpectedly, and small animals – almost every comparison or explanation she made had a mouse or a kitten in it. She was also intensely clever at crafts. She made small beanbags which she called tantrums – you could throw a tantrum without hurting anyone – and the ones for hunters were made of camouflage material. They were a big hit at craft shows.

Decia will be missed, desperately.

Decia is survived by her loving husband, Mark T. Skarstedt and her elder brother, Maurice May.  She is loved and missed by her three sons; Ethan Skarstedt and his wife Kristina and their five children, Isaac, Leif, Bonny May, Lily, and Hazel;  Jared Skarstedt and his wife Sandra and their two daughters Mira and Eliza; and Luke Skarstedt and his wife, Megan, and their three children  Alaric, Fay, and Vance.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 24th at 10:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 110 Highland Ave. Vineland, with Bishop Les Cook officiating.  Interment will follow in Gloucester County Veterans Cemetery, Monroe Twp., NJ.  Family and friends may gather on Saturday, from 9:00-10:00 am at the Church.

In lieu of flowers (or in addition to them), donations should be made to the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 110 Highland Ave. Vineland, NJ 08360.

Please visit www.wbfuneralhome.com to share condolences with the family.

Arrangements are in the care of Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home, Vineland.