Jane Elsea Brunot

She is survived by her daughter, Beth (Brunot) Eberle (John), Arvada, CO and her son, Jeff Brunot, Marietta, GA; seven grandchildren; and her siblings Jinnie, Scott and Jim.

A celebration of her life will be held Friday, May 26, 2017 at 10:30am at Ascent Community Church, 550 McCaslin Blvd., Louisville, CO 80027.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to her church, which she loved so dearly: Ascent Community Church, 550 McCaslin Blvd., Louisville, CO 80027.

Jane was born in New York City, New York to Virginia (Lentz) and E. Scott Elsea on July 17, 1938. Soon afterwards, they moved to Findlay, Ohio where they settled to raise their four children, Jane being the oldest. Jane led a charmed childhood in Findlay, a quaint small town in Northwest Ohio surrounded by small farms and patches of woods. It was there that her beautiful heart and strong values began to be shaped by the love of her parents and extended family.

She fondly remembers having “enormous amounts of good, clean fun” with her close friends in Findlay…participating in lots of activities with the Wetonah Camp Fire Girl Group (which still meets today for coffee and reunions); attending Sunday School together; and her favorite, going to Wilson’s Sandwich Shop for hamburgers and “thicks” (shakes) after boys basketball games at Findlay High.

After high school, Jane earned a degree in Education at the University of Vermont and was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. Again, she was blessed to meet more life-long friends and enjoyed all that New England had to offer like lake swimming, skiing and breath-taking fall colors.

Jane moved to Boulder, Colorado after finishing her studies to begin her 30 year teaching career where she had the privilege of loving and molding 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. Nearly half of her later years were spent at Columbine Elementary School. Jane loved her students and her profession. She was a patient, talented and creative teacher beloved by her students, parents and teaching partners.

Even with a busy teaching career, Jane was also a devoted mother of two children, Beth and Jeff. She loved and supported them beyond measure … she made delicious home-cooked meals; sewed creative Halloween costumes; planned fun birthday parties; hosted wonderful holiday gatherings shared with family and close friends, Easter being her favorite; and cheered with gusto at choir concerts and athletic events.

Jane stayed active and also made time to nurture the many friendships that she was so blessed to have. In addition to enjoying hiking, biking and, most recently, pickleball, Jane also served in many leadership capacities in her church. With a joyful spirit and a song in her heart, one of her most favorite activities was to sing and travel with the Jubilate Sacred Singers and First Presbyterian Choir. Her “music family” was precious to her!

Besides teaching, Jane is most well-known for owning the Mother Goose Book Shop, a children’s book store in her home. She entertained countless children, parents and grandparents by hosting tea parties and story time, reading to the kids dressed as Mother Goose. She was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the magic of children’s literature and made it her mission to get kids excited about reading…and that she did!

Jane dealt with many adversities in her life…divorce, parenting as a single mom and four bouts with cancer. But she maintained a beautiful, positive outlook on life and courageously carried her “crosses”, never wavering in her faith. She looked at trials as an opportunity to grow closer to God and to encourage others going through similar situations.

Jane loved to entertain, sit by the pool to “get a little color”, walk the beaches of Sanibel Island, Florida to find the perfect shell, go shopping and out to lunch with girlfriends and cheer on her grandkids at sporting events. She loved coffee ice cream, hiking near wildflowers, a cold Fat Tire beer after mowing the lawn, and watching sunsets from her deck.

It was Jane’s kind, joyous spirit and model of faith that was admired by so many and that touched so many lives. It is her faith, the virtue that ties all her other gifts together, that will be the most precious legacy she leaves behind. Jane, and her beautiful life well lived, is loved and adored and will be missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

The family hopes you will join in celebrating Jane's life on Monday, May 26th at 10:30 at Ascent Community Church., 550 McCaslin Blvd., Louisville, CO 80027.

Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary, Cemetery & Arboretum, Wheat Ridge, CO.