Obituaries
Jane Gillette, 93
October 20, 1926 - July 28, 2020
Jane Gillette passed from this life to the next on July 28th, 2020 at Landis Homes. Jane was born in Brooklyn, New York to George and Grace Kirk on October 20th, 1926. She was the fourth of five children, all of whom preceded her in death. Upon graduation from high school, she moved to Lititz to live with her aunt and uncle, Harry and Ann Pierson, where she attended Linden Hall. After graduation from Linden Hall, she met Roy Gillette in Lancaster when he was a young industrial engineer for Armstrong. The two quickly became close friends and corresponded frequently when she spent the next winter in Florida with her aunt and uncle. When she returned to Lititz, it wasn’t long before Roy asked her to marry him, and they wed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on September 18, 1948.
The couple had four children: Kirk, Tom, Bill and Barbara. Roy and Jane lived most of their married life in Manheim Township, where they made many friends and were active in the community. Jane worked countless hours volunteering with the Humane League where she was on the board for many years organizing garage sales and other fundraising activities. She had a big heart for dogs, particularly her Springer Spaniels, Charlie and Penny.
Jane was the primary caretaker for Roy for the seven years he went through the devastating stages of Alzheimer’s . She was his faithful helpmate, supporter and friend to his last days. He often quipped that his life began when he met Jane. In many ways, that was true.
Along with husband Roy, Jane was preceded in death by son-in-law, Rudy Jennings, as well as granddaughters Courtney and Amanda Gillette. They will be very happy to see her.
Roy and Jane were blessed with three daughters-in-law, eleven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren (so far). She loved them all, and was loved by them. She leaves behind family and friends who will miss her great wit, her creative stories, her wonderful sense of humor, and her unconditional care for them. These remain—faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love—that she showed in such abundance.
Services will be held at a future date.
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
Condolences to the Family
August 04, 2020
To the Gillette Family, I first met your Dad in February, 1973 and he offered me an Industrial Engineering position at Armstrong. I met your Mom a couple years later at a small group dinner in Lancaster. Your parents were gracious and wonderful people. I was lucky to have been connected to them. God bless them and all of you.
Steve Senkowski
August 03, 2020
Joyful, happy, upbeat and loving, I will miss Jane so much. She especially loved her family and always made you feel like you were a part of her family too! She had a generous heart and hearty laugh and was always there to listen if you needed a sympathetic ear. My son and I feel so blessed to have known her and to be touched by such a wonderful spirit.
Kimberlee Kleine
August 02, 2020
Kirk, Bill, Tom, & Barb,
Our thoughts are with you re the passing of your mom. When Nancy and I visited with her a while back at Landis Home, and before then as well, she was as vivcious as ever. She was so proud of her multi-generational family, her eyes twinkling when speaking of them. She remained joyous and typically very conversational :~) , still laughed wholeheartedly and completely, and was a straight shooter as ever.
She was the last person to have known me from my very first moment, and onward for all of my 70 years. She was a great soul. I will miss her; I will remember her.
Bob and Nancy Evans.
August 02, 2020
To the Gillette family: you have lost a wonderful Mother and Friend, I lost my Peggy almost 5 years ago and she loved both Jane and Roy and ther wonderful years at Armstrong I know they were both there to greet her at the Pearly Gates. I also loved them both God bless them and keep them until we all meet again inn Heaven Please accept my sincere condolences. Respectfully, Frank Rosol
August 02, 2020
Sweet memories of a beautiful life. Jane was the upbeat,happy,warm,welcoming person that everyone wanted to be near. You will be missed by all your family, friends, and furry friends you came in contact with.💕🐾 Love Gillian (Jill) Walls
August 02, 2020
I was a young woman when I met Jane at the Humane League of Lancaster County nearly buried in a room of garage-sale stuff. She spent days turning hundreds of items–mostly junk and a few treasures–into an amazing fundraiser every year. She had a sparkle in her eyes, a lilt in her voice, and a detrmination never to stopped until every last thing was priced and mostly sold. She raised thousands of dollar for the cause of the needy animals in Lancaster County. Working with Jane taught all of us what it is to be a fine human being.
My husband, John Kondravy, a very quiet person was effusive about Jane’s humanity. He always called her “a true lady.” She was so kind to ORCA, Organization for Responsible Care of Animals. She believed in our special cause from the very beginning when many others did not. All of us at ORCA salute Jane for her commitment to the needy animals of Lancaster County for decades.
Connie Kondravy
