Obituary of Jane G. Heppard

Jane Ann (Griffis) Heppard passed away in Pitman at the age of 91 from complications related to a long battle with Alzheimer's on Sunday morning, December 11. She is survived by Paul Heppard, her husband of 67 years who was with her to the end. Jane is also survived by two sons Jeffrey (Judy), and Philip (Janet), five grandchildren, Elizabeth (Andrew) Kadjeski, Thomas, Benjamin, Jessica, and John Heppard, and one greatgrandchild Adam Kadjeski. She was daughter of Gladys and Claude Griffis and sister of Jay Griffis, all of whom pre-deceased her. Jane was born in Roslyn, NY, graduated from Roslyn High School in 1943, St. Lawrence University in 1947, and earned a master's degree from the predecessor to SUNY Albany, NY in 1948.She taught elementary classes at schools in Valley Stream, NY and Baltimore, MD, and then for nearly twenty years became a full time mom. After her sons had moved on to college she returned to the work force as a teacher at St. John's in Bridgeton, NJ, for the former Glassboro State College, the state of New Jersey and finally the McCowan Library in Pitman. Jane had a deep and abiding faith and was a practicing Methodist all her life. She grew up in Roslyn Methodist Church, then attended the Orems Road United Methodist Church in Middle River, MD, Jensen Beach UMC in FL and Pitman UMC. After Residing in Jensen Beach, Florida for over 20 years, Jane and Paul returned to Pitman in 2008 as residents of Pitman Manor. Although her disease gradually eroded her abilities in later years, she and Paul were great travelers during retirement and visited every continent, including Antartica. She greatly enjoyed singing in choirs at Jensen Beach and Pitman. She was a person who was remarkable for her sunny upbeat and caring personality, and was an inspiration to her friends and family. Friends and family may gather for a visitation on Saturday, December 17, at the Kelley Funeral Home, 125 Pitman Ave., Pitman, NJ. A funeral service will follow at 11AM. Interment Hillcrest Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rotary International's Polio Plus campaign at The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60693 as Jane was one of the last Americans to contract polio in 1955 just prior to the introduction of the Salk vaccine. Memories may be shared at www.kelleyfhpitman.com. »(Do not delete this line. It does not print. Text that is to appear on web must be entered before this line)