Jane Coffee

Jane Coffee, age 89 of Mariemont, died July 8th, 2021.

Jane was born in 1931, the fourth child and first daughter to LaFayette and Mary Jane Camp Coffee. In the early years she was called Mary Jane but later chose to be known as Jane, differentiating from her mother's name which was Mary Jane.

Friendships for the first thirteen years were from the one room school, Coffee School, and the community five miles south of Salem. Her life was enriched by her loving parents, her elder
brothers John Gilmer, Marvin William, and Robert Alvin, and later her younger brother Donald Ray. She had nieces and nephews, all of whom she cherished and with whom she kept in close contact.

She completed her high school education at Salem High School, where she was an honor graduate. Next, she attended Kent State University for two years, majoring in fine arts. Once she decided to study to become an Occupational Therapist she transferred to Ohio State University from which she graduated cum laude in 1953. It was during a field placement in Connecticut that she was advised of her father's death, a keen loss.

After working for four years at a rehabilitation facility in Indianapolis, Indiana she took a position in Fort Wayne, Indiana working with visually impaired individuals. During the end of her tenure, she became the Acting Director. Her decision to go to graduate school took her to Northampton, Massachusetts where Smith College was located. During her 2 1/2 Years of study, she had nine-month long internships in Cleveland and in Cincinnati. She moved to Cincinnati when she was offered a position in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati. During this time in Cincinnati, she established an important and durable friendship with Jo Gately.

Aunt Jane's work involved counseling family members of those children in treatment with a 'psychiatric fellow'. She was also active on a diagnostic team as well as one of the team members of the Children's Psychiatric Emergency Team, a new approach toward meeting crises situations.

Her next career move was to the Cincinnati Association for the Blind where she headed a department of social service. She enlarged the social services and instituted an early childhood
intervention service.

Retiring in 1997 Aunt Jane began an active period in which she traveled, gardened, volunteered with a number of groups, and resumed her oil painting as well as undertaking water coloring. She was active in her church as well as many other local organizations and clubs.

For more than forty years Jane shared a home with her dear friend Josephine Gately, called Jo. During their work years both were active in community programs such as Habitat for Humanity and assumed leadership roles for several years. The Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati (WACC) was a local organization in which they became very active; for five years they put on an English Afternoon Tea, providing linens, dishes and proper food for up to 170 guests. This raised money for the club. There was much entertainment within their home as well. They enjoyed planning and carrying off "theme gatherings" for their many friends.

Both enjoyed travel. Aunt Jane traveled to Alaska and the Arctic Circle before it became a state. Soon after meeting one another, they began travel in this country including California, Nevada (yes, Las Vegas, but for a wedding). New York City, Washington, D.C., Maine and all of New England, New Orleans (several times as anyone would do) and travels out of the country including The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy (many times), Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Wales, and Jane to China while Jo goes to Australia. A memorable occasion took place in County Cork when these two travelers rented a good-sized Georgian manor house and invited family and friends to join them. The gathering was spirited and most enjoyable for all-English, American, Irish and Scottish .

How fortunate that Smith College sent these two congenial women to Cincinnati for a placement thereby bringing about this wonderful friendship. Their home is located in Mariemont, a community patterned after an English village.

At her request a private family service will be held. If desired, memorials may be directed to Calvary Presbyterian Church, 7416 Elm St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45227, Winona Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 85, Winona, Ohio 44493, or Earlham School of Religion, 228 College Ave., Richmond, Indiana 47374. Please note, In Memory of Jane Coffee in the memo. T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home serving the family.