Jane Lee (Carr) Lucia was born on July 4, 1924 in Gillespie, Illinois to George and Lelia (Foster) Carr, their only child. They eventually moved to Nakomis, Illinois where she grew up living close to her cousins Kay and Mary. She met her best friend Jean there and they have been each other’s confidant ever since. Most of the time she could be found playing ball or tag with the neighborhood boys instead of dolls, a self-described tom boy. During her teens in the early WWII years, she worked at a munitions factory adding fuses to bombs. She and the girls would draw lines on the back of their legs to mimic stockings since so many things were rationed then. After high school graduation, Jane attended MacMurray College 1942-44 as a journalism student. She transferred to the University of Missouri School of Journalism where she was one of the founders of Kappa Alpha Mu, the first of its kind for photography. She wrote articles for the university newspaper, The Missourian, which competed with another city newspaper. She met a young sailor, Norman (Lou), on the city bus who needed to know at which stop to get off. She told him “where to get off” and loved telling that story long after their marriage in Ridgewood, NY on September 20, 1946. They lived with Father Lucia while Norman finished his degree at Columbia University and Jane worked for McGraw-Hill publications as a Research Librarian and Proofreader.
Norman was commissioned into the Air Force which sparked Jane’s travel bug that lasted a lifetime. During his time in service, they lived in Virginia, Bermuda, England, Colorado, Greece, and Alabama before settling back in Colorado in 1968. As an Air Force wife, Jane decided that it would be easier to find a job as a teacher rather than a journalist. She obtained her teaching certificate and discovered her passion. She was a teacher or principal at most of the places they were stationed. In their retirement, they continued to travel extensively, usually to places where Norman could fish. Jane would hike, read, and explore each place they visited, photographically documenting their adventures. After Norman’s death, Jane stayed active in her Daughters of the Nile patrol, enjoying those deep friendships. She continued to travel with family, friends, and the Shriners.
Jane had two children, daughter Michelle (Shelly) and son Marshall Scott. She is remembered by all of us, her beloved family as being kind and generous to all. She lived for her family and adored her dogs, her nearly constant companions. She was a source of strength throughout our lives. Forever the first grade teacher, she was always reminding us to do basic things like wearing a hat or jacket to venture outside. Jane was a very determined, independent woman who, after setting her mind to something, never stopped until she saw it through. She had a delightful sense of humor up until her very last days. She enjoyed a nice walk, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, sewing, traveling, and journaling. She had an insatiable sweet tooth and wouldn’t think of retiring for the evening without a bowl of ice cream. Jane was young at heart and had a zest for life.
Jane was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Norman. She is survived by her children Michelle (Paul Michelini) Hadley, Marshall ‘Scott’ (Ann) Lucia, her four grandchildren Rachel, Christopher, David, and Simon and two great grandchildren, Ashlyn and Tyson as well as her cherished nieces and nephews and all their families. She will live forever in our hearts and minds.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, donate.lovetotherescue.org/ in Jane’s memory.
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