Jane F. Pendergast

Jane Fickenscher Pendergast  March 23, 1921 – December 17, 2013 Passed peacefully from this world into eternal life at home surrounded those who loved her dearly.  Born in Towson, MD to Edward and Virginia Fickenscher, Jane loved her family, Catholic faith and Maryland roots.  Jane attended Notre Dame Academy in Towson where she honed her leadership and organizational skills.  At the age of 13 she met her beloved “Penny” whom she married at the age of 20 and remained married to him to the day she died even though he predeceased her by 29 years. She was the rock of her family as they moved from Maryland to Milwaukee, to Nunda NY, to Indianapolis and finally Jacksonville, FL where she resided for many years until moving to live with her son in Atlanta.  After her children were grown, Jane embarked upon a life of volunteerism at St. Luke’s Hospital in Jacksonville, St. Joseph’s Hospital Atlanta and the Georgia Governor’s Mansion. She was a proud member of the National Society of the D.A.R. Always putting others first and never one to call attention to herself, attention nevertheless naturally came to her as she was a warm, intelligent, loyal and beautiful woman always impeccably turned out.  She will be missed but we now take comfort in knowing that we have a new and extremely interested Guardian Angel watching over us.  In addition to her parents and husband John Pendergast, Jane was preceded in death by son, Edward Michael Pendergast and brother, Edward (“Ted”) Fickenscher.  Survivors include brother, David Fickenscher of Williamsburg, Va, sister, Virginia Blatchley of St. Michaels MD, daughters, Patricia Gillingham of Casper, WY, Peggy Litwhiler (Danny) of Colorado Springs, CO, Pamela Flansbaum ( David) of Grants Pass, OR, son, John Pendergast, Jr (Jane High) of Atlanta, 14 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Jane and her family would like to especially thank Dr. Steve Macheers, Dr. Tom Jordan, Donna Bills and Dr. Richard Hansen for their exceptional medical care, extraordinary kindness and compassion; Dwight Allen for the protective care and patience that he provided over the last 5 years and Nadia Francois and Regina Reagan for their companionship and care in Jane’s final months.  Jane and her family will always be grateful for the loving care and special touches daughter-in-law, Jane “The Younger” brought Jane “The Elder” in the final months of her life.  A funeral Mass for Jane will be on January 9th at 1pm at  St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church in Triangle Va with interment to follow next to her beloved husband in Quantico National Cemetery.  A celebration of Jane’s life will be held at her home on her 93rd birthday on March 23, 2014.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Bolles School for the Jane Pendergast Endowment for Community Service 7400 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida, 32217 or St. Joseph’s Hospital Mercy Care 100 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite LL80 Atlanta Ga 30342.