Jane M. Magill, 91, entered into eternal rest in the loving presence of family at home on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. She was the beloved wife of Jacques Magill, Wyomissing, PA, for 57 years. Jacques was her devoted caregiver in the last years of her life.
Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Jane was the daughter of the late Loretta M. and George A. Cavanaugh, Sr. After graduating from Amherst High School in 1947, she attended Cooley Dickinson Hospital School of Nursing in Northampton, Mass, where she earned her RN. An adventurous spirit led her to work as a nurse in Veterans Administration hospitals in Los Angeles, CA and Brooklyn, NY in the 1950s. Returning home to New England, she attended Boston College, graduating with a BS in nursing in 1960. She worked at Paterson General Hospital in New Jersey, and at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center for sixteen years before retiring in 1994.
A lifelong Catholic, Jane was a dedicated parishioner and volunteer at the churches where she was happy to serve - St. Brigid’s in Amherst, MA, St. Boniface in Lunenburg, MA, St. Thomas the Apostle, Oak Ridge, NJ, and St. Ignatius of Loyola, West Lawn, PA. Blessed with a beautiful voice, Jane sang for many years in church choirs, as a Mass cantor and with the Berks Grand Opera. She volunteered with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, RCIA, Bereavement Ministry and Kennedy House, and was a long-time apheresis blood platelet donor. Service to others was her calling, and she fulfilled it with humility, compassion and love.
Proud of her Irish heritage, Jane was known for her “gift of gab” and dedication to letter-writing and sending birthday cards. Jane loved to call and write to her wide-ranging group of family and friends with notes filled with news of the family, experiences and reflections. Likewise, she delighted in hearing the latest from everyone in her world. She was a dedicated newspaper reader, especially loving the funnies, and could always be counted on to clip and send an article she found interesting.
Jane enjoyed traveling with Jacques and their daughters throughout the United States on tent camping trips and, in retirement, to Europe, the Caribbean and Canada. Their trip to Australia ranks as one of the top journeys of their lives together.
Those who will cherish Jane’s memory include her husband, Jacques, and their daughters and sons-in-law: Anne, wife of Stephen Ostrowski, Mohrsville, PA; Christina, wife of Richard Marcinek, Ellicott City, MD; Mary, wife of Freddie Fisher, Sinking Spring, PA; and Jeanine Magill, wife of Hal Ratner, Chicago, IL. In addition, Jane will be deeply missed by her nine grandchildren: Connor Marcinek, fiancé of Katie Hogan, Springfield, VA; Kyle Fisher, Sinking Spring, PA; Owen Marcinek, Ellicott City, MD; Bridgette Fisher, Oklahoma City, OK; Noah Ratner, Chicago, IL; Erik Marcinek, Ellicott City, MD; Brooke Fisher, Sinking Spring, PA; Gabriel Ratner, Chicago, IL; and Benjamin Ostrowski, Mohrsville, PA. She is also survived by her brother, Thomas Cavanaugh, husband of Cindy, FL, sister-in-law, Susan Amalia, Sebastopol, CA, many loving godchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends. She was pre-deceased by her brothers, George A. Cavanaugh, Jr., and Philip J. Cavanaugh, Sr., and her nephews, Michael Cavanaugh and Philip J. Cavanaugh, Jr.
To be loved by Jane was to be unconditionally embraced in her circle of kindness. She cherished her lifelong friends, decades-long book club, fellow nurses and, especially, her large and loving family. Never uttering an unkind word about anyone, Jane was truly the kindest, most thoughtful person, whose motto, “when in doubt, do” should inspire us all to look out for and serve the least of our brothers and sisters. May her memory be a blessing.
Visitation with family and friends will be held on Sunday, May 16, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 17, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church, West Lawn, PA with burial to follow at Gethsemane Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jane’s memory to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 2810 St. Albans Drive, Reading, PA 19608. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc. is honored to be entrusted with Jane’s final arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.