Jane Ann Grametbaur

November 10, 1952 – June 2, 2025

Jane Ann Grametbaur, born Jane Ann Nay and lovingly known as Jan by her family, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 2, 2025, with her loyal Chiweenie-mix, Baby Girl, by her side. Jane's life was a tapestry woven with kindness, adventure, and boundless creativity.

Born on November 10, 1952, in Waltham, Massachusetts, Jane embarked on a remarkable journey marked by compassion and achievement. She earned her registered nursing license in 1973, beginning a long and impactful career in healthcare. Her early days included working in the OR at Fairfax Hospital before she made the bold move to Long Beach, California, in the mid-1970s. There, she explored nearly every department of the hospital system through a nurse’s registry—until fate (and a registry assignment) brought her to the Orange County Jail. What began as a temporary assignment quickly became her true calling. She fell in love with correctional nursing and, later, correctional legal nurse consulting, building a distinguished career and mentoring countless others along the way.

In 1978, Jane married William F. Grametbaur, and together they welcomed two children: William E. Grametbaur in 1980 and Megan Grametbaur in 1985. The family settled in Moreno Valley, California, in 1984. Though Jane and William eventually divorced, Jane's journey continued with strength, resilience, and unstoppable enthusiasm. She dove deep into her love of literature, writing stories, poems, and novels while advocating fiercely for special needs education.

Beyond her nursing career, Jane was a prolific writer, weaving tales that captivated readers and reflected her deep love for literature. A self-proclaimed hippie at heart, Jane was a woman of contrasts and color—intelligent and playful, deeply spiritual yet down-to-earth, serious about her passions but never too serious to share a laugh or a wild adventure. Time spent with Jane often led to hearing a story from her kaleidoscope of memories and being a character yourself in a new hilarious tale.

Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish a successful legal nurse consulting firm in 2002, where she mentored and inspired countless professionals in the field.

Jane’s life was a mosaic of milestones: becoming a grandmother in 2000, founding her own legal nurse consulting firm in 2002, retiring from the jail in 2010, and fulfilling her dream of traveling the world—including a magical bucket-list journey to England, Scotland, and Ireland with her daughter in 2017. She was published multiple times and received several awards for her writings in the field of correctional nursing, retired her business in 2022, and then reinvented herself once more in 2023 by launching a jewelry business, showcasing her talent and appreciation for vintage and antique pieces. By 2025, she was working toward publishing one of her cherished novels.

Jane loved horses and rode dressage in her youth. A passionate collector and artisan, Jane collected Zuni fetishes and rosaries, appreciated Native American culture and the tranquility of early Christian missions, and had a wardrobe as vibrant as her spirit. She was a founding member of the J.E.R.K.S., a proud member of Romance Writers of America, and a generous mentor to nurses, writers, and dreamers alike.

Above all, Jane was a fiercely loving mother, a loyal friend, a proud grandmother, and a compassionate human being. She believed in standing up for what’s right, embracing all walks of life, and living each moment to the fullest.

A Celebration of Jane's Life will be held on Monday, June 30, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Miller Jones Mortuary, 23618 Sunnymead Blvd., Moreno Valley, CA 92553. In honor of Jane's vibrant personality, attendees are encouraged to wear colorful attire. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and/or ASPCA would be greatly appreciated (Links are included further down the webpage) .

Jane will be remembered for her unwavering kindness, infectious passion for life, and the profound impact she made on all who had the privilege of knowing her.

To borrow the words of Jane herself, from her poem “In The Herb Garden”:

“The smell of lavender, sharp and clean,

easing tensions as the worries of today,

take flight on the wings of a hummingbird.”

I Am Not There

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there;

I did not die.

Jane's spirit will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who loved her.