Obituary of Jane E. Wilson

Jane E. Wilson, 67, of Danvers, passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Jane was born in Peabody July 14, 1944 the daughter of the late George and Margaret (Kneeland) Wilson. Jane was raised and educated in Peabody graduating from Peabody High School and attending Salem State College where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in 1966 followed by a Master’s in education. She enjoyed her college experience, singing in a folk group, playing basketball and cultivating a wonderful group of enduring friends. At Salem State the custom was to seat alphabetically by last name, bonding the students whose names began from R– Z for the next 4 years. Schaefer, Walsh, Wallace, Wiggin, Wilson, Woodman, Yaffa and Zuppio remain friends to this day. Jane secured employment with the Peabody School Department. At the Kiley Elementary School she taught 5th grade for many years. From the class room, Jane went to administration, bringing her talents to the Higgins Middle School as House Master for 8 years. Jane assumed the position of Principal of the Higgins Middle School with it’s 1600 students and several hundred faculty and staff, retiring in 2003. Since her illness, many former students and contemporaries have expressed how influential Jane was in their personal development. Jane loved to learn and thought the best way to do this was by traveling, including visits to Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, the Greek Isles, and river cruising through Europe with her dear friends Janice Pagano and Marie Duffy. Jane leaves her sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Robert Griffin of Newburyport; nephews Mark and Travis and grand niece Audrey as well as her loyal dog “Murphy”. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 8:45 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Richards Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Friday, February 10, 2012 from 4 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Jane’s memory to Dana Farber Breast Cancer Institute, www.dana-farber.org , P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. or to Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. Please visit www.ccbfuneral.com for directions, online obituary and memorial guest book.