Jane H. Nye

Jane Linda Hartman Nye, born June 23, 1940, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 22, 2024, in Gretna Springs, Lebanon County. She was the daughter of the late Joseph Samuel and Mildred (Uhrich) Hartman.

She is survived by her husband, Donald Nye. They were married on November 30, 1963 and were looking forward to their 61st anniversary.

She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1958, and started her career as an Educational Administrative Assistant. Throughout her life, Jane worked at the Lebanon County Superintendent of Schools, IU 13, Hilton Head Elementary School, East Stroudsburg University, and finally, Millersville University. She retired in 2002 after completing 44 years of service in education, a career she thoroughly enjoyed. Jane was an active member of the community and her church, wherever her or Don’s job opportunities led them.

She is survived by her younger sister, Mary C. Garrett of Lebanon, and her brother-in-law, Robert Nye of Reading, and predeceased by two siblings Joseph S. Hartman and Susan Winters, both of Lebanon.

In addition to her husband Donald, she is survived by two children: her daughter, Jennifer Erin-Nye Cope, and her husband, Geoffrey M. Cope, of Bethesda, MD and son, Daniel Hartman Nye, and his wife, Malgorzata M. Nye, of Colorado Springs.

A legacy she left to her grandchildren – Hannah, Julia, and Benjamin Cope, Joey and Olympia Nye – were the reciprocal love of reading and writing. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, and they have many fond memories of her reading and playing with them.

Jane and Don loved to travel across America together, especially to visit family in the Western US. They visited all the lower 48 states. Jane was also an avid walker/jogger (“wogger”). During her lifetime, she covered an estimated 40,000 miles by foot (and only got lost one time). From a young age, Jane enjoyed summer swimming at Coleman Park, Ebenezer Lion’s Lake, and Mt. Gretna Lake. She earned her Red Cross Junior Life Saving Certificate which was taught by her cousin Diane Scherer Beamesderfer who showed her no favoritism.

In her memory, Jane would ask us to “love thy neighbor” near and far (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31), a principle she truly lived her life by.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Peter Pyles at Rohland Funeral Home in Lebanon and the staff at Hospice for All Seasons in Grantville.

A Celebration of Life Service will be scheduled for the spring in March 2025.