Beverly Jane Hammelrath

Jane Hammelrath, age 77, of Longboat Key, Florida and Springboro, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 5, surrounded by her family. She was a beloved mother, Oma, sister, aunt, and friend to so many. She is survived by her children, Kara (Sean Carpen) of Chicago, IL, and Kristin (Jack Blake) of New York, NY; grandchildren Jackson, Luella and Jack; sister Pam (David Aukerman); brothers-in-law Tim and Mark (Mary), and extended family and friends who loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, whom she lost in October 2025.

Born on July 17, 1948, in Greenville, Ohio, to the late Emery and Pauline Pepple, Jane loved to reminisce about her childhood growing up on the farm with her sister.

Jane eventually made her way to Dayton, Ohio where she worked for an orthopedic surgeon for over 30 years. More importantly, Dayton is where she met her husband of 51 years, Tom, and raised her two daughters. She was so much more than a wife and mother. Jane was the heart of our family—the matriarch in every sense of the word. She had a quiet, unshakable wisdom and always knew exactly what to say when one of her daughters needed guidance. She was an avid reader, dance mom, sideline cheerleader, gardener, beach lover, Cincinnati Bengals fan, and crossword puzzle pro. Yet nothing brought her greater joy than being an Oma. To Jackson, Lulu, and Jack, she was everything.

Jane would later retire to Longboat Key with Tom, where she spent her days on the beach, enjoying Wine Wednesdays, and socializing with her friends who became her Florida Family. She always looked forward to visits from her kids and grandkids, where she had the pool, sand toys, sun, and the best beach reads waiting for them.

In her later years, when Tom needed her most, she stepped up without hesitation. She became his caregiver with the same love, patience, and strength she gave to all of us—selfless to the end.

We’ll miss every single piece of her—the advice, the laughter, the way she made ordinary moments feel special. She was not just part of our family—she was the best part.

Please join the family on Friday, February 13 at 10:00 a.m. for some of Jane’s favorites, coffee and pastries, at St. Henry Parish Activity Center, 6696 N. Springboro Pike, Dayton, Ohio. A Mass to celebrate Jane’s life will begin at 11:00 a.m. at St. Henry Catholic Church, followed immediately by a burial at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jane’s honor to the American Farmland Trust to support and save America’s farms at https://farmland.org/tribute-gift. In addition, we ask that you simply do some of Jane’s favorite things—hug your kids and grandkids, read a good book, and meet your friends for coffee and pastries.