Jane Morrissey Pratt

Jane Morrissey Pratt was born on May 26, 1947, to William and Dorothy Morrissey of Hooksett, New Hampshire. She attended Central High School in Manchester, where she met John Sullivan Pratt at 17, and later studied at the University of New Hampshire, earning an advanced degree in education from Lesley University.

Jane and John were high school sweethearts. Their first date was November 21, 1963, beginning a love story that spanned more than six decades. They married on July 19, 1969, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Manchester and raised three children in Canterbury, New Hampshire, where they lived for 30 years. After more than 60 years together and 57 years of marriage, they remained best friends, sharing belly laughs, knowing side-eyes, and a deep, unwavering commitment to one another. To John, she was always Janey.

Teaching was Jane’s calling. She began by working with students with learning disabilities, then taught fifth and sixth grades at Canterbury Elementary and Belmont Elementary in the Shaker Regional School District. She believed deeply in education’s power to open doors and held her students to high standards, encouraging them to work hard, think independently, and recognize their potential.

Brilliant, outspoken, and fiercely independent, Jane had a sharp wit and a perfectly timed zinger. As a mother, she encouraged Kerry, Rebecca, and Ben to pursue their education, explore their passions, and, above all, think for themselves. They inherited her independence and strength of character. Anyone who knew Jane knew exactly who had walked into the room.

Family was the center of Jane’s world. She treasured trips to Florida and the Bahamas, holidays together, and time on Lake Winnipesaukee. Sunday dinners were a staple in the Pratt household, often featuring a perfectly seasoned pot roast or pork loin. She understood how a good meal could bring people together, and those gatherings became part of the fabric of family life.

Her grandchildren, Julia, Willa, and Colton, were among the greatest joys of her life. She was endlessly proud of them, cheering at field hockey games and spelling bees, encouraging baking adventures and outdoor exploration, and celebrating accomplishments big and small. To them, she was simply Grammy, a constant source of love, encouragement, and support. She treasured being part of their lives and making sure they knew how deeply they were loved.

Jane was also a devoted friend. The friendships she formed at Central High School and while raising her family in Canterbury lasted a lifetime. She and her friends shared decades of laughter and stories, happy days at a lake in Maine, and unforgettable adventures sailing catamarans and exploring islands. She loved good food, painkillers and prosecco, and opening her home for gourmet dinners, good wine, and lively conversation. She cherished these friends and memories until the end.

Jane loved reading, cooking, baking, traveling, and, of course, shopping. She delighted in finding just the right thing and appreciated the pleasures, big and small, that made life fun. Above all, she lived on her own terms, with a strong sense of who she was and little interest in being anyone else.

Jane is survived by her beloved husband, John; her children, Kerry Pratt and her husband, Michael Goodman; Rebecca Hankins and her husband, Scott Hankins; and Ben Pratt and his wife, Elizabeth Benotti; her grandchildren, Julia Goodman, Willa Goodman, and Colton Hankins; and her brother, Brian Morrissey, and his wife, Linda Bagshaw. She was predeceased by her parents, William and Dorothy Morrissey.

Visitation will be held at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 North Main street, Concord, NH on November 2, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.