Our beloved Jane passed away on Sunday, September 10th in Oakland, CA surrounded by her heartbroken family.  Jane was born in Oakland, CA on May 12th, 1947 to a small family of three, parents Elizabeth and Tom Meagher (deceased), and a sister, Mary (King)(Jack).  Little did she know she would be followed by seven more sisters, Libby Cholerton, Theresa Meagher, Kathleen Clapp (Joe), Rita Chappelle (Steven), Irene Meagher, Suzanne Clark (Doug) and Carol Meagher (Spin Shaffer).  Jane was a vital part of her big family, always approaching everyone and every situation with a warm heart, wise advice, and a spirited enthusiasm for life. 

Jane loved to travel, garden and entertain. Her home was whimsically decorated for every holiday and she hosted many special family events with wonderful food and hospitality, which were enormously enjoyed by all.  She also filled her home with enchanting art and childlike figurines she knew would delight her many, frequently visiting, nieces and nephews she loved so completely: John King (Michelle); Michael (Brenna), Matthew (Cindy) and Andrew Cholerton; Christine and Stephen Cauterucio; Angela, Eileen (Bryan), Mary Elizabeth and Sheila Clapp; Robert, Kristen (Patrick) and Scott (Caitrin) Chappelle, Liza Hickey; Bryan, Tommy and Paul Clark; Samantha and Sarah Jane Shaffer. 

Jane attended Saint Leo’s Grammar School ‘61, Holy Names High School ’65 and Holy Names College/University ’70 all in Oakland, CA.  She continued her education by earning her teaching credential at Holy Names College/University, her Masters of Art from University of San Francisco and her Special Education Credential from St. Mary’s College. 

Jane taught in the Oakland Unified School District for thirty years at Lakeview, Martin Luther King Jr., and Piedmont Avenue Elementary Schools and Montera Middle School.  She was an exceptional teacher who worked hard to create a welcoming classroom environment and to engage and educate all her students to succeed in the classroom and in life. It is a testament to her efforts that many students returned to thank Jane for her dedication and commitment to their future. 

Jane’s love, humor, wit, kindness, generosity, compassion, hospitality and sharp intellect will be deeply missed by her sisters, their spouses, children and grandchildren, as well as her extended family, friends and her precious cat, Blue. 

A Vigil/Rosary will be held on Monday evening, September 18, 2017 at 7pm at Grant Miller- John Cox Mortuary, 2850 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA.  The funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 10:00am at Corpus Christi Church, 322 St. James Drive, Piedmont, CA.

Donations may be made in Jane’s memory to Holy Names University, Oakland and/or The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 49 Stevenson Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94105 (jdrf.org/donate).

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