Jane Ellen Divincenzo

A visitation for Jane will be held Friday, December 30, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Miller Mies Downey Mortuary, 10229 Paramount Blvd, Downey, California 90241, followed by a funeral servcie from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

Jane Ellen DiVincenzo was born 12/12/1918 in Woodworth, Ohio to Otto and Ruth Paulin. She was the oldest of three children. Her brothers Bill, Norman and parents all passed away within 6 years of each other between 1949 & 1955. I guess she had to make up for their short lives by living until her 104th birthday!

She attended the Ohio School for the Deaf from 1925 through 1939 where she met and married her 1st husband, James Shopshire. They had 3 children, Jack and twins Judy and Jay. She later moved to California and married Sam DiVincenzo and had their daughter, Jeannie. They moved to Rochester, NY to be near the DiVincenzo family but after 3 years Jane wanted to move back to CA to the warm weather!

Jane worked for time in Rochester before becoming a fulltime homemaker and helping raise her grandchildren, Rosina, and Jon in South Gate. Once her daughter Jeannie turned 18, she applied for residency at Pilgrim Towers where her party life began!

Pilgrim Towers was a senior citizen apartment building for the deaf in Los Angeles. They had great times playing card games, bingo, going to deaf clubs, taking trips to Laughlin, and making crafts. Jane was a member of the Lutheran Church for the deaf and attended services on Sunday with her friends from Pilgrim Towers. She also sold Avon products and traveled back and forth by bus between Los Angeles and South Gate carrying bags of Avon for all her customers. Every Christmas family and friends would enjoy craft gifts she made along with fun Avon products she would wrap up as gifts. She especially loved going to all the deaf clubs: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Bellflower, and Whittier. When she was in her 90’s the family talked her out of taking the bus and train everywhere, so she started taking Access with her buddy Lois, which gave us a little more peace of mind. Mom loved sports too, she was an avid Dodger and Laker fan and could be found sitting in her rocker catching a game most nights during the season. Dancing with the Stars also gave her immense joy to watch especially when Nyle DiMarco who was deaf won, she was glued to all episodes and even watched the re-runs.

Amazingly Mom lived on her own independently with some help from Veronica up until a few falls and few calls to the L.A Fire Department. She agreed to move to Long Beach with her daughter Jeannie and her spouse Patty in 2020, during the pandemic. She wore the panic button, but never used it. She always loved dogs and now especially was surrounded by her grand pups Buster and Fiona who gave her joy. Many a day was spent watching TV, doing crossword puzzles, word search or the evening Dodger or Laker game. She enjoyed her many calls from her son Jay and daughter Judy as well as friends on Sorensen Video relay. New grandbabies were born, and she enjoyed her new great-great grandkid visits. Mom was on hospice for over a year and had many visits from nurses along with her caregiver friend Veronica who was a big help to Mom on a weekly basis.

Grandma Jane was a joyful presence at all holidays and family gatherings with her colorful clothes, her beautiful hair and trademark red lipstick and nails. She loved her family and friends, and we miss her greatly.

She is survived by her daughter, Judy Taylor of Riverside; son, Jay Shopshire of Virginia Beach, VA; daughter, Jeannie DiVincenzo and her spouse Patty of Long Beach; 5 Grandchildren, 14 Great Grandchildren and 7 Great-Great Grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Sam and son Jack.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks if you can please donate to GLAD, Greater Los Angeles Area Deaf. https://gladinc.org/involvement/donate/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.millermiesdowneymortuary.com for the Divincenzo family.