- Date Of Birth: February 13, 1944
- Date Of Death: June 7, 2016
- State: Michigan
Jane Marie Ward (72) of Three Oaks passed away Tuesday morning, June 7 2016, after a ten year battle with leukemia. She was at the Center for Hospice in South Bend in the presence and comfort of her family. She was born February 13, 1944 in New Jersey, the oldest child of Bernard and Doris (Keegan) Ward, who preceded her in death.
She was the eldest of nine children; Virginia Ward, Mary Pat Schmidt (survived by Art), Margaret (Paul) Go, Barbara (Phil) Sutton, Katherine Ward, Robert (Wendy) Ward, James (Susan) Ward, and Bernadette (Dane) Waterman Ward. Jane married Walter David Ward August 20, 1966 in South Bend, Indiana. Walt is the third child of four born to Pauline (Burkert) and Norris “Gadget” Ward (both deceased); older brother John Ward (survived by Marlene), older sister Ilene (Don) Mackling (both deceased), and Jan (Larry – deceased) Phillips. Jane will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
She is survived her by husband of almost 50 years, Walter David Ward, and her children; Thomas “Ted” (Jessica) Ward, Brian (Karla) Ward , and Rebecca (Nick) Zarzecki. Together Walt and Jane had six grandchildren; Samantha Ward, Chyler Ward, Andrew “Drew” Ward, Emily Ward, Ruth Zarzecki, and Gabriel Zarzecki.Jane attended Marian College for her undergraduate education, and then earned a Master of Divinity degree from Notre Dame. She was a Eucharistic Minister and Lector for Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Three Oaks, as well as being a Bible Study Leader for over twenty years. Jane started her career as a math teacher at Brandywine High School, then was a substitute teacher after having a family.
In her later years she was a Librarian at the Three Oaks Library. Walt and Jane built their dream home together in Three Oaks, and traveled all over the United States, Ireland, Paris, and Rome. Jane was an avid reader in her free time, as well as being the family genealogist, a seamstress, and occasional gardener.
