Jean (Faulkner) Lane, 90, wife of the late Robert Dennis Lane, died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of October 26, 2017 in Natick, Massachusetts, surrounded by her family.
The matriarch of a clan that included five children, 15 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren, Jean loved her life, her family, God, and her Catholic community.
Born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she enjoyed returning to her old neighborhood on Green Street. Married at St. Paul’s in Cambridge, she and Bob celebrated more than 50 years of marriage before his death in 2001. Jean attended Framingham State College, graduating in the Class of 1937. After working as a teacher, she built and managed her own kindergarten, Brentwood Hall, and worked for many years in alumni relations at Babson College.
A devout member of the Catholic Church, Jean attended Mass at St. Patrick’s in Natick and enjoyed daily Mass on the Catholic Channel. Jean brought communion to community members for many years as a Eucharistic Minister for St. Patrick’s.
Jean’s home was a lively place, echoing with the laughter of her great-grandchildren, who loved her and played happily in her presence. “Nanny” was always sure to have special treats for them in one of the kitchen drawers. The aroma of Jean’s famous snickerdoodles baking in the oven often filled the kitchen, and once a year, she made Irish bread for the entire family. Recently, Jean’s grandchildren gathered for one last time with “Nanny,” playing cards and telling stories of family trips to ride the Swan Boats.
In addition to her husband, Jean was predeceased by her parents, William and Elizabeth Faulkner, and her sisters, Mary (McCafferty) and Elizabeth (Hooley).
She is survived by her children and their spouses: Denise and Tom Wright, William and Vicki Lane, Donna and Frank White, Elizabeth and David Stilwell, and Barbara and Bill Walsh. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Christopher (Chris), Andrew (Andy), Dennis, Jean, Michael, Elizabeth, Jennifer, Nicole (Nikki), Ruth, Joshua (Josh), Brian, Kaitlin, Meghan, Daniel, and Callie, and her 16 great-grandchildren.
Visiting hours at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, NATICK COMMON, on Monday, October 30, 2017, from 4:00-7:00 PM.
Funeral services at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, NATICK COMMON, on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at 9:00 AM, followed by her Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Patrick's Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick, at 10:00 AM.
Interment services will follow at Saint Patrick's Cemetery, Pond Street, Natick.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a gift in Jean's memory to the Catholic Television at http://www.catholictv.org