Jane Skahan Neff-Brain passed peacefully on May 3, 2013, after a nine year battle of ovarian cancer. Jane was born on February 2, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri and lived her childhood and teen years in Prairie Village, Kansas. She attended St. Ann grade school and Shawnee Mission East High School. Jane was in the second class of women to attend the University of Notre Dame. She spent her sophomore year of college studying in Angers, France. After receiving her degree from Notre Dame, she attended law school at the University of Kansas. Jane enjoyed a twenty-eight year career as a city attorney for the City of Overland Park, Kansas.
Jane was proud of her family, her husband Don, and their two children. When they were attending school, she was active on the PTO Board and the School Board of Nativity Parish School. Jane was a member of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, making many lifelong friends from her volunteer services. Jane loved politics and city government, and after her retirement from Overland Park, served on the Board of her Homes Association and on the Leawood Planning Commission.
Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Helen Kierl Neff and Charles Neff, her two best friends and travel buddies, Peggy Fitzgerald Sweeney and Karen Bledsoe Smith; aunts, uncles, cousins and her toy poodle, Rosie. She is survived by her husband of thirty-three years, Don Brain; son, Donald Brain III; daughter Genevieve Brain; mother-in-law Charleen Brain; brother-in-law David Brain and his wife Cathi; niece Caroline Brain; nephews Andrew, Charlie, and Philip Brain; her red minipoo Sophie; aunts, an uncle, cousins, and many cherished friends.
Visitation will be held on May 6th from 5:00-7:00 p.m., where the Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m., at McGilley State Line Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be May 7th at 10:30 a.m., at Church of Nativity, Leawood, Kansas with private family interment following in Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution, in Jane’s name, to the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Kansas City (www.ocaka.org) or to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (www.ovariancancer.org).
Jane’s wish was that those who attend her services do so in the spirit of celebration, as she has gone Home.
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