Jane R. Ward's Obituary
Jane Ward of Chagrin Falls, Ohio passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, August 2, 2016 at The Maltz Hospice House and Palliative Care at Montefiore.
Jane was born in Toronto, Canada on November 23, 1920. Her family later moved to the United States and settled in the Cleveland area. She became a US citizen. Her family made many trips to Canada to visit family during her childhood. She grew up in Shaker Heights and attended and matriculated through the Shaker Heights School System. She graduated from Miami of Ohio with a BFA in 1942 and returned to Chagrin Falls, Ohio where she has resided until the present.
Family lore describes her forte as a fine figure skater, likely developed from her Canadian roots. Jane was a gifted watercolor artist and employed her talents at home for family and friends. She was also a skilled seamstress and tailored remarkably lovely articles of clothing for herself, family and friends.
Jane had a legendary career spanning several decades at the Cleveland Clinic where she worked in the Department of Ophthalmology as an ophthalmic technician. Jane utilized her artistry to paint and match prosthetic eyes to those lost by patients of the hospital. She developed many friendships, professional relationships and much respect with and from physicians, nurses and administrators in the course of her service there.
Jane traveled extensively with good friends throughout Western Europe and Asia. She and friends even explored the Serengeti on an African Safari in the early 1990’s. She and lifelong friend, Ruth Kennedy MacNab celebrated their 80th birthdays at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
She led a very healthy life and attended an exercise program at JCC Beachwood weekly from her 50’s until the day before she suffered a medical condition at the age of 94! Her favorite pastime was to have coffee and lunch after exercise at the mall with friends. Together they then would peruse the clothing shops for the most recent fashion trends. She and friends would examine and critique designer clothes that she would then replicate with her tailoring talents.
She was self-effacing, highly intelligent, remarkably independent, and with great strength of character. She had a strong loyalty to friends and family - caring and supporting them whenever needed. An indomitable spirit who would admonish such accolades!
Jane was preceded in death by her mother, Anne Elizabeth Hanna Ward, her father, Arthur Lancele Ward, and brother, Arthur Lancele Ward.
She is survived by three cousins: Carol Ann Gauley of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Paisley Janvary Pool of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, and Jane Cameron McDougall of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
She will be sorely missed by family cousins, Cleveland Clinic colleagues, exercise cohorts, and many dear friends near and far.
A very special thanks to Attorney, Don Brown, who has stood by Jane from the smallest “necessary” detail to the most significant legal and ethical decisions facing an individual. Jane would wish additional appreciation to be extended to her daily caregivers over the last year, Robertha and Teresa, and to the most professional and attentive oversight of Bridget Ritossa of Careplan Geriatric Case Managers. NO SERVICES. NO VISITATION.
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