Jane M. (Sparrow) Magnant, age 91, died peacefully on July 12, 2021. She died at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her children, Stephen Magnant, Carol Magnant, and Ellen and Mario Pimentel. Jane was the widow of Romeo J. B. Magnant. Born in New Bedford, Jane was the daughter of the late Dominic and Jane (Foley) Sparrow.
Jane graduated from Holy Family High School, Class of 1947 and St. Joseph’s School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse. Over the years, Jane worked as an R.N. , eventually retiring from the Department of Public Health where she supervised inspections and certifications of hospitals and nursing homes.
Jane and Romy retired at the young age of 55 at which time they became “snowbirds” , wintering at their home in Sarasota, FL. Jane lovingly cared for Romy until his death in 2002. Following his death, Jane spent many years volunteering at Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota providing companionship and comfort to those in Hospice care. She also made sure the families visiting patients had a home-baked sweet waiting for them.
Jane is also survived by her grandson 1SG Aaron Vitone, U.S. Army, his wife Chelsea and their sons, Benjamin and William of Colorado Springs, CO; Andrew Vitone; Greg Pimentel and his wife, Heather, and their children, Cooper and Rhea, of Dartmouth, MA, and her namesake, Jane Pimentel of Wilton, CT. She is also survived by her Godchild, Patt Champagne, with whom she shared a special bond; several other nieces and nephews, and her daughter, Catherine Magnant and her children.
Jane was the last of the “Sparrow girls” having been predeceased by her sisters Dorothy Hahn, Sr. Theresa Sparrow and Patricia Champagne. She is also predeceased by her brother Augustine.
A funeral mass will be celebrated in St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, Dartmouth, MA on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 11:00 AM. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Meeting Street/Schwartz Center, One Posa Place, Dartmouth, MA 02747 (Meetingstreet.org) or Tidewell Foundation, 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34238 (Tidewellhospice.org)
