Mary Jean "Bunny" Bastian

Mary Jean “Bunny” Bastian of Coral Gables passed away peacefully on April 23, 2022. She was born April 15, 1927, in Washington, DC, the daughter of Francis and Edna (Kopp) Zugel. After graduating from Immaculate Conception High School in Washington, DC, Bunny worked as a secretary while earning a Bachelor of Arts and a law degree from the George Washington University. It was at GW Law where she met the love of her life, James Bastian. She used to joke that she had a lot of options for whom to date, because there were 100 male law students to each woman. The two married in 1955 and graduated law school together the following year. Bunny and Jim loved to travel, visiting far-away places like Papua New Guinea, Egypt, Nairobi, most of Europe, and much of Asia. They were married for 45 years when Jim passed away in 2000. Bunny worked for decades for the United States Labor Department in the Solicitor’s Office and the Wage and Hour Division, focusing her work on child labor law. She took a break from full-time work to raise four children, returning to full-time as they entered their teens. When the family moved to Coral Gables in 1984, Bunny worked part-time for the family business, Southern Air Transport, but threw herself into getting to know her new community. Her first and longest relationship was with her parish, Epiphany Catholic Church, where she served as a lector and a Eucharistic Minister, was a member of the Women’s Club, supported the Endowment, the music program, and other fundraising initiatives, and was a proud Epiphany grandmother. Over the past 35 years, Bunny championed many causes and served on many boards, including the Humane Society of Greater Miami, the Jackson Memorial Foundation, the Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys, the Gables Estates Club, and Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart. She chaired numerous galas for these groups and for the Archdiocese of Miami, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the Children’s Home Society, and Camillus House. She was a supporter of many other organizations, including the Lowe Art Museum, Beaux Arts, the University of Miami Women’s Guild, the Young Patronesses of the Opera, the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Project: New Born, Cancer Link of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Brickell Literary Society, and the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida. She was the recipient of many accolades and awards, but two were especially important to her: The Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh Award by Catholic Charities and The American Red Cross Tiffany Circle of Women Leaders Una Award. In addition to work and philanthropy, Bunny loved to play tennis, read good books, and entertain. She played tennis for both Riviera Country Club and Coral Oaks Club. From large birthday parties for her children to intimate dinner parties that went on through the night, she planned every detail. She made everyone feel welcome. She belonged to a fabulous book club and loved to host Girls’ Night Out, movie luncheons, themed parties, and her annual Christmas Ladies Luncheon. She valued the friends she made in everything she did. She loved spending time with her kids and her grandchildren, often attending their piano recitals, school events, and birthday parties. She was always attending events and planning the next one to host, so much so that she was lovingly called the “Energizer Bunny.” In addition to her parents and Jim, she was predeceased by her brother Francis “Skip” Zugel. She is survived by her two daughters, Raphael Bastian (James Boink, Jr.) and Marquette Arnold (Steve); her two sons, Bartholomew Bastian (Natacha) and Boniface Bastian (Joanna); eight grandchildren, Kateri, Marika, and Holt Boink, Andrew and Joshua Arnold, Christopher and Sean Bastian, and Christian Bastian; and eight nieces and nephews. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at Epiphany Catholic Church, 8235 SW 57th Ave., Miami, FL 33143, on May 10, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Epiphany Endowment Fund, 8080 SW 54th Court, Miami, FL 33143, or the Carrollton Endowment Fund, 3747 Main Hwy, Miami, FL 33133. Services provided by Maspons Funeral Home. Miami, Florida

April 15, 1927 - April 23, 2022

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May 1, 2022

Mary Jean "Bunny" Bastian

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