Mom was a woman of incredible faith. She attended mass regularly and watched daily mass on TV. She also held mass and taught religion classes in her home. In her earlier years, mom served on the cemetery committee of St. Joseph’s Parish, Dingwall, Neils Harbour Coop Board of Directors, as well as on the board of directors of Buchanan Memorial Hospital. Mom taught school for 40 years. Upon graduation from St. Michael’s High School in 1959, she attended Normal School in Truro to become a teacher. She devoted her career to her students, often keeping stories that they had written and later giving them to their parents. Her Christmas tree was adorned with many ornaments that she received from her students. She moved to Neils Harbour to teach in 1960 and it was here that she met and later married Ivan, the love of her life in 1963. She taught in New Aberdeen at St. John’s School from 1961-1962. Upon returning to Neils Harbour she taught at Dingwall School serving as principal for 2 of those years and union representative. While she was teaching, mom spent many nights studying for her BACS degree and graduated in 1999 from UCCB. Upon her retirement, she and dad (Ivan) spent 11 summers in their beloved Margaree.
Some of the many things that mom enjoyed were attending concerts, bingos, sales and community events with her family and friends. She loved visiting her family and compiling the history of her roots, cutting newspaper articles for use in her grandkids studies. She also loved watching game shows while her cat Silky sat on the arm of her chair. She could often be seen going for drives with her grandchildren. Until her passing mom lived at home with her daughter Margaret and son in law Jason Hawley.
Jane is survived by her daughters Monica (Billy) Hogan New Haven, Margaret (Jason) Hawley Neils Harbour. Affectionately known as Nanny Jane to four grandchildren: Justin Rideout (Gelisa), Jason Rideout (Alyssa) and Kara and Breagh Hogan. She also leaves 4 great grandchildren AJ, Aliyah, Landyn and Greyson, sister Margaret Rose Matheson (Don) Ottawa, brothers Ronald Matheson (Josephine) Sydney, Cameron Matheson (Elizabeth) Glace Bay and Victor MacDonald (Jesslyn) Halifax as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. She also had a special place in her heart for Larry, Susan, Lloyd, Lori and David.
Besides her parents Ida and Cameron Matheson, Jane is predeceased by her husband Ivan, god-child Brian Fricker.
A visitation will take place from 6-9pm on Tuesday, June11, 2019 and again on Wednesday from 1-2:30pm both at Fillmore & Whitman Funeral Home in Ingonish. Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, June 12 at 3pm at St. Peter’s Church in Ingonish with Fr. Jake Andrea officiating. Memories and condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.fillmoreandwhitman.com.
Donations, in Janes memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of NS, MS Society or the Hospice Society of Cape Breton.
Special thank you to the home care support workers, Buchanan Memorial Staff and Cape Breton Regional Staff, New Dawn Home Care and Sheila Fricker. Also thank you to Rev. Caroline Sharpe for all of your visits. All of you were wonderful in the care you gave to Jane.
