Mary Jane Werner

Mary “Jane” Werner, born September 15, 1929, lived quite a life. The daughter of Frank and Lois Denton, she was born into the Quaker faith amongst the gentle hills of Orange County, Indiana in the tiny town of Paoli along with her beloved younger brother Frank (1934–1951). In her youth, she developed a lifelong love of learning and basketball. Her dad taught her to drive in a field on a nearby farm and she never looked back, graduating from Paoli High as class valedictorian, earning her a full scholarship to Indiana University. Upon hearing the news of her acceptance to IU, her favorite teacher Mrs. McKittridge gave her a little red plate as a gift, which Jane still has hanging, along with a card that read, “make us proud.” Did she ever. In college, Jane’s passion for reading led her to major in history and library science, along with admission into the Phi Beta Kappa national honor society. At IU, she also met her best friend and eventual husband, a fellow Hoosier named Forrest Werner. Their first date was at the Orange County Fair near Paoli. Nearly 65 years later, one of their last dates was at the Orange County Fair in California. Eventually they moved their family out west, settling in Costa Mesa where Jane became the librarian at Santiago High School in nearby Garden Grove. It was a job she enjoyed for 30 years, making her mark on countless students by creating a library space brimming with warmth and curiosity, which was named after her in 1991. In retirement, she was active in many organizations including the California Retired Teachers Association, P.E.O., Indiana University Alumni Club, Costa Mesa Democratic Club, while also serving as treasurer of her local Delta Kappa Gamma chapter and president of UCI Town & Gown. She passed on her love of learning to her four children, each of whom grew up to become recognized educators themselves. As a family they were as tight as they come, crisscrossing the country by station wagon, camping in a pop up tent trailer off the back. Together Jane and Forrest visited all 50 states and explored every corner of the globe, including Russia and Egypt. Among her only travel regrets: “not making it to Antarctica with Forrest.” To them, life was an adventure. At the holidays, her house was a wonderland that would’ve made Mrs. Claus jealous. She was an impeccable dresser with a soft spot for St. John Knits and an avid theater goer. But most of all, she loved to get her huge family together. Nothing lit her up more. To her ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren, she was everything a grandma is supposed to be. Full of joy and wisdom, always patient and there to listen, a rowdy cheerleader ever ready with a hug. Looking back on her life, Jane often marveled at “how a girl from a small town in Indiana could’ve done so much.” But she’d also tell you that of all her accomplishments, it’s the close-knit, loving family she leaves behind that she’s proud of the most.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made to the scholarship fund at UCI Town and Gown, With Hope Foundation for Suicide Prevention or the Democratic Party of Orange County. Knowing that she was making a difference always made her smile.