Jane E. Hedges (nee Schiff), 70, a 35-year resident of Oak Park, died on Sept. 13, 2015 in her Oak Park home after a year-long battle with cancer.
Born and raised in Evansville, Indiana with her brother Dr. Jon Schiff and her sister Judy Thoman, she graduated from Indiana University with both a bachelor and master’s degree in education. While at Indiana University, she met John, her beloved husband of 47 years. After living in Indiana, Iowa and California, the couple settled into Oak Park with their sons, Michael and David. She attended music classes, school performances and T-ball games for her grandsons, Brady, Jack and Dylan, and she and John spent many a summer weekend at their second residence in Wall Lake, Indiana, with extended family members, including her brothers-in-law, David (Ginger) and Robert (Barbara), and many nieces and nephews. This home was open to all friends and family, oftentimes more than it was built to hold.
Ms. Hedges worked her entire career in the field of education and counseling, retiring from East Leyden High School in Franklin Park after 25 years as a guidance counselor. Her impact on students was evident from her continued communication with them throughout the rest of her life.
In retirement, she donated her time and energy to multiple charities in the Oak Park area, including Hephzibah Children’s Association and the Economy Shop. She worked tirelessly on behalf of these organizations to raise funds and awareness and recruit other community members to participate in the programs. An active member of St. Edmund Parish where she served on the school board, worked to raise funds for the church and school, volunteered as a wedding coordinator and as a minister of care, bringing communion to the sick.
Anyone who was blessed enough to know her will remember her love of life, family and being with others. She never passed on an opportunity to serve others and to bring love and joy to anyone she came into contact with.
Jane Hedges is survived by her husband, John; her children, Michael (Julie Dunn) and David; and her grandchildren Brady, Jack and Dylan.
Memorial visitation will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St. in Oak Park. Family and friends will meet at St. Edmund Church on Wednesday, Sept. 16, to celebrate a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to Hephzibah Home (hephzibahhome.org).
