Jane Russell Love

Jane Russell Love, 72, of Arlington Heights, Illinois passed away peacefully at home on May 6,2024.

Jane was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 28, 1951, to Russ William Russell and Ruth(Branaman) Russell. She was the oldest of two daughters and grew up in Evanston, Illinois. As achild, Jane loved to sit and listen to her mother talk, absorbing rich details on subjects frombiology to zoology. After graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1969, Janeattended Ohio University where she majored in Theatre Performance, furthering her innatelove of music, song, and storytelling.

At 20 years old, Jane left Ohio and moved to Europe, spending seven years in Vicenza, Italy andthree years in Bavaria and Flensburg, Germany. Spending her 20s abroad influenced the rest ofJane's life profoundly. She became fluent in Italian and German and immersed herself inlearning about culture, language, gourmet food and wine, architecture (particularly Palladio),design, and art history.

At 30 years old, Jane repatriated home to Illinois and worked at FirstBank Evanston where shemet the love of her life, Craig John Love. They were married on July 26, 1986, in Long Grove andlater settled in Arlington Heights. Jane continued to work at the bank, first managing ATMmachines and later preparing mortgage loans. The couple started traveling to Europe togetherin 1991.

Traveling internationally was one of Jane's true passions and she planned trips meticulously,i.e., absorbing travel books, cross-referencing maps, and organizing lists of information intodetailed itineraries. Jane and Craig made 22 trips to Europe including Italy (all regions), France,Spain, Portugal, and the UK.

When traveling in Italy, Jane especially enjoyed dining at restaurants that were members of theUnione Restoranti del Buon Recordo. If a restaurant was "in the club," it was required to createa main course item representing the region's historic food and to prepare the dish using localtraditional methods. Jane's kitchen included over 65 Piatti di Buon Recordo, uniquecommemorative plates given after meals to guests as gifts of "good memory" for the regionaldishes enjoyed at each restaurant.

While Craig shared Jane's love of travel, Jane shared Craig's love of photography. In the late1990s, the couple formed a fine art photography business highlighting their photos fromEurope and Jane coined the perfect name for their endeavor: FotoAmore Photography.For the next 20 years, Jane and Craig were wayfaring outdoor fine art photography exhibitors injuried weekend art shows each summer. Jane loved talking to fellow artists and art showpatrons, sharing her vast knowledge and experience. Jane, the self-proclaimed "Vice Presidentof Shipping," packaged and mailed all the show orders. Today, Jane's photographs hang inhomes and galleries across the Midwest.

After retiring from the bank in 1996, Jane volunteered at Lyric Opera of Chicago. (Her love ofopera began after seeing an outdoor production of Verdi's Aida in Verona, Italy.) As an operahouse docent, Jane led school tours throughout the Civic Opera House, showing children thebackstage, costume, wig, and rehearsal areas, while pointing out architectural details andtelling animated stories about the operas. Her involvement with Lyric went well-beyondvolunteering, however. She and Craig were season ticket holders for over 30 years andparticipated in Lyric events including the Operathon fundraiser on WFMT.

Over the years, Jane received classical voice training and performed in musicals and theatricalproductions. Jane sang with and soloed in several choral groups including Chicago MasterSingers and the Northwestern University Summer Chorus. She proudly volunteered with othertalented women in "Musical Revue," performing choreographed musical programs for seniors.In quiet moments, Jane loved to needlepoint and was an accomplished needlepoint artist. Somuch so that the Winnetka Stitchery asked her to work there part-time, which she did for manyyears. Jane completed large complex canvases expertly and enjoyed creating personalized giftsfor loved ones. Her favorite project was a custom pillow depicting the Evanston home whereshe grew up. She designed and needlepointed the pillow as a cherished gift to her parentswhen they downsized to a condominium during retirement.

Stitching all of Jane's passions and accomplishments in life together was her generous andcaring nature. Jane created beauty and joy in this world, whether her medium was song,photography, food, needlepoint, or storytelling. While she shared generously with everyone,Jane was especially close to her niece, Mindy, and to her mother, Ruth.

Mindy and her young family brought much joy into Jane's life, and she was dedicated totheir happiness. After Jane's father died, Jane devoted herself to Ruth's well-being andbecame her constant companion. Once again sitting with her mother and listening to herexpress that wonderful mind, Jane cherished their time together in Ruth's final years.Jane was charming, quick-witted, fun, and authentic. She always wore her shoulder length hairin a classic headband and her favorite color was lime green, Pantone 382 C to be exact, aka"Jane green" to those who knew her well. While Jane dedicated her life to discovering andappreciating human artistic expression, what she loved most was people. She was theembodiment of the Italian proverb, "L'amore nel vostro cuore, non di rimanere, ma per esserecondivisa." Love is in your heart not to stay, but to be shared. Jane was living proof that love'strue value is in its expression and connection to others.

Jane is survived by her husband Craig, her niece Mindy Wilkerson (John) of Pewee Valley,Kentucky, her sister Sue Marcus (Steven) of Roehnert Park, California, her brother-in-law Brian Love(Nancy) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, her brother-in-law Kevin Love (Daylene) of Shrewsbury,Massachusetts, her great-nieces Luci Ott and Savanah Wilkerson, and her great-nephewsJohn Love, Ryan Love, Francisco Love, Benjamin Love, Vincent Ott, Gavin Wilkerson, andLevi Wilkerson.

A celebration of Jane's life will be held at a future date, and she will be interred near herbeloved parents at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, pleaseconsider donating to Jane's favorite charitable organizations: Chicago Master Singers andLyric Opera of Chicago.