Catherine Jane Meskill

Catherine Jane Meskill, a long-time resident of San Antonio, passed away on September 24, 2008, following a lengthy illness. She will be remembered as a gentle person with a generous nature; and her love of family and friends, devotion to the Catholic Church and passion for teaching English were an inspiration to those who knew her.

She was born in San Antonio at Fort Sam Houston, the fourth of five children, to Richard Joseph Meskill and Cora Margarite Tarpey Meskill. The Meskill children grew up in Texas City and Galveston and were fortunate to have most of their cousins nearby, including Charles "Bussy" Outterside and Donny, Jimmy, Margie Lee, Travis and Nancy Tarpey, with whom they have enjoyed decades of friendship.

Jane, as she was affectionately called by the family, received her formal early education from the Ursuline nuns at St. Patrick's School in Galveston. Even as a young girl, she had a special love of literature, which began in early childhood with her father, who was born and educated in Ireland and who could quote poetry at any occasion. Her love of both poetry and prose was fostered both in elementary school and during her high school years in San Antonio at Incarnate Word High School.

In 1955, she graduated from Incarnate Word College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Her parents were staunch advocates of education and encouraged all of their children to pursue bachelor's as well as master's degrees. She later received her Master of Arts degree in English from Incarnate Word College.

Jane was an English teacher and school principal during her long career in education, serving at the elementary level in La Marque, Texas and at Lackland Air Force Base, and at the high school level at Robert G. Cole High School at Fort Sam Houston. She loved her work and was calm, organized and professional in the classroom. She was devoted to her students and had very high expectations of them. As an English teacher, she even checked the bibliography references of her students' term papers to make sure they were correct. Her home was strewn with students' papers, as she took much time and great care in providing comments and corrections; she was determined to help each student improve his or her command of the English language. Prior to her retirement, she served as principal at Lackland Air Force Base Elementary School.

Jane Meskill had so much love and generosity in her heart that she wanted to share these with a child of her own. In 1974, she became a foster mother to a darling little four-year-old girl, and several years later, adopted her as her daughter, Mary Jane Meskill. She loved and devoted her life to her daughter and to her grandchildren, and was extraordinarily giving, patient, protective and nurturing.

Survivors are her daughter, Mary Jane; grandchildren, Melissa and Richard Joseph Weidenhoffer of San Antonio; sisters, Sr. Miriam Meskill of Houston, and Cora Elizabeth Meskill of San Antonio; brother, William Meskill of San Antonio; niece and her husband, Suzanne and Jeff Doughty of Austin; nephew and his wife, William and Connie Meskill of Burke, Virginia; nephew and his wife, Michael and Renee Meskill of Austin; seven grandnieces and nephews; and cousins and their families.

The family would be very grateful to friends or former students who take the time to write any fond memories of Jane at the Porter Loring Guestbook at www.porterloring.com. Also, the family wishes to thank Jane's health care providers, including Dr. Paul Smith and the caring staff members of Brighton Gardens Nursing Home and Vista Care Hospice. Throughout Jane's long illness, they provided such wonderful care and support.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the convent in which her sister, Sr. Miriam Meskill, serves: Incarnate Word Convent, 3400 Bradford Place, Houston, TX, 77025, 713-668-0423.