WILMINGTON, MA — Jane Marie (Coffey) O’Hearne, age 86, a long-time resident of Wilmington, MA, peacefully passed away surrounded by her loving family on March 9, 2020 at The Residence at Pearl Street in Reading.
Jane was born on April 9, 1933 in Medford, MA; she was the cherished daughter of the late Martin Denis and Mary Margaret (Hurley) Coffey. Jane was raised in Medford and graduated from St. Clement High School.
After graduation, Jane attended Katharine Gibbs College, where she earned her Secretarial certificate. She took her first position as a secretary at a law office in Boston on Federal Street. Jane was well-liked and very dedicated to her job; she was an accomplished secretary who could type more than a hundred words per minute.
Jane met her beloved husband of 23 years, the late Francis Thomas O’Hearne of Woburn, MA, during a chance encounter at a “Big Band” dance at the popular Mosley on the Charles in Dedham. They were married in 1955, and as newlyweds they moved to Catherine Ave. in Wilmington, where they raised their two children, Mark and Susan. After 10 years, the family moved to Chapman Ave. (Hathaway Acres) into Jane’s favorite red cape-style home, where she lived for over 50 years.
Jane returned to the workforce part-time while her children went to school. She took a position at Sweetheart Plastics in the personnel department for several years, before working at Zayres Department Store and then as a secretary for Mr. Rando. In 1974, Jane went to work for Analog Devices in Wilmington as an Executive Secretary for more than twenty years, before retiring.
After retirement, Jane took on a new position as “Nana.” She always loved to spend time with her grandchildren who kept her happy and busy.
In her spare time, Jane loved to work in her garden. She enjoyed all kinds of flowers and took pride in her yard. Jane was also very passionate about music. She was a talented pianist who took lessons as a child and could even play the piano by ear. This gift brought joy and memories to her whole family. As time went on, Jane could no longer read the sheet music, but she could still play by memory.
Jane also loved to dance; she took dance lessons as a young child and participated in ballroom dancing as a senior activity in her later years. Jane was proud of her “dancing genes” that were passed on to her granddaughters who all dance today.
Jane’s love and pride for her family was greater than anything else; she was a thoughtful and devoted mother and grandmother who was always there with a smile or advice. She was willing to help and lead by example with her courage and strength. Even in her later years, Jane was still full of life and loved to have fun. She kept in touch with her old relationships and continued to make new relationships everywhere she went. Despite her memory issues, Jane was blessed with a healthy life and she will truly be missed by her family, friends and neighbors.
Jane was the beloved wife of the late Francis Thomas O’Hearne, devoted mother of Mark Daniel O’Hearne & his wife Anne of Newton and Susan Marie O’Doherty & her husband Patrick of Reading, loving “Nana” of Thomas Francis O’Hearne, Marjorie Anne O’Hearne, Áine Marie O’Doherty and Caitríona Marie O’Doherty, dear sister of Paul Coffey & his wife Ruth of Woburn and Mary Anne Miller & her husband Bob of Malden. Jane was very special to her long-time companion, the late Charlie Luciano of Magnolia, MA. She is survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, neighbors, friends and extended family.
Family and friends will gather at the Nichols Funeral Home, Inc., 187 Middlesex Ave., (Rte. 62), Wilmington on Friday, March 20th at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 126 Middlesex Ave., Wilmington at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. Visiting hours will be held at the Funeral Home on Thursday, March 19th from 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Memorial donations in Jane’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 (alz.org) or to one of Jane’s favorite charities Boston Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215-5301.
(NOTE: The above obituary is from Nichols Funeral Home.)
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