Jane L. Coons

Jane L. Coons died on May 23, 2018 just two days shy of her 99th birthday. She was born in Ann Arbor and grew up in East Lansing, Michigan. She graduated from Michigan State College in 1940 as a Math major which was highly unusual for a women in that era. After graduation she worked in Detroit for a brief time and then moved to Chicago where she lived for most of her adult life. She loved all the “yummy” things that Chicago had to offer; the theatre, museums, the symphony and living in a high rise apartment overlooking Lake Michigan. Jane was a very analytical person which suited her well in her work as a tax accountant. She often said, how important it was to love your work and she sure did. During her career, she worked for the Trust of the founder of the Zenith Corporation for many years. Jane was a life long learner who loved to read the Wall Street Journal, study financial trends and follow her investments, she attended over 40 elder hostels and loved to travel including a trip to China. She played in golf leagues until she was 90 and was an avid walker and as she said, she was a “doer”.

Jane moved back to East Lansing in her eighties so she could be closer to her “family”.

Her family included; Emily Henderson her friend of over 80 years, Milly Henderson Gilin and Gene Gilin, Jennifer Gilin Novello (Jonathan and children; Zoe, Livi, Ben) and Sarah Gilin Kent (children; Karson, Reese, Noah), Peter, Rose and Emily Houk, Peggy Cunniffe, Jon Ayers, M.D. (Theresa), Polly Ayers, Murphy Ayers (Zan Alley), Amanda Moore (Dan). She was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Mildred Coons, her first cousin Helen Ayers (Ruston) and her friend Norman D. Henderson, M.D. and many other friends she knew over the years.

She was lovingly cared for by Karen Wernette, Michael Crosby, R.N. of Sparrow’s Hospice, and the staff of the fourth floor of Burcham Hills Retirement Center and the whole team at Burcham including staff from the dining room, the front desk, the business office and the management team.

A service will be held at The People’s Church, 200 W. Grand River Ave., East Lansing Michigan on June 22, 2018 at 11:00a.m in the Memorial Garden (on the East side of the church) to honor and celebrate Jane’s life and legacy.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT JANE TAUGHT US DURING HER LIFE,

HOW TO:

* be an independent woman with a responsible career in a non-traditional field

and throughly enjoy your work

* thrive in a big city and travel the world

* enjoy learning new things

* enjoy driving the country

* successfully manage money and the value of watching it grow

* be generous with others (She contributed to 37 organizations annually and many

individuals)

* live your life in the way that works for you

* be a friend

* express yourself and be proactive

* be articulate and notice when your needs change and to marvel at

how naturally things have a way of working out

* deal with what is rather than how you wish it was

* understand that we are blessed even with all the ups and downs of life

* understand that in the end, it is the people you love and who love you that

matter the most

* let go and move with dignity and grace through life and death

So for this and much more, we thank you Jane. You were loved.