Jane A. (Kilgallen) Curran-Kime

Jane Ann Curran-Kime, 86, died peacefully Sunday, December 29 at Arbors Assisted Living in Taunton, Mass. She'd been a resident there since 2021, dealing with the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's and dementia. Despite her illness' impact on her ability to communicate verbally, Jane's wonderful ability to express herself with smiles, nods, frowns and open-mouthed surprise never ceased. Her faith, will and resilience were hallmarks of a wonderful life.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Clarence (Pat) and Ruth Kilgallen, Jane spent her childhood in Pennsylvania before her parents and brother, Martin, moved to Hicksville, New York on Long Island. There, she attended St. Dominic's High School in Oyster Bay and graduated in 1956.

Jane graduated from Boston College in 1961 with a degree in Education. Her upbringing and time at Boston College fostered a deep appreciation for philosophy and theology which remained lifelong passions.

Jane married the late Francis Joseph Curran in 1964 in Framingham, Mass. She and her beloved "Buster" (she was his "Babe") welcomed Michael Francis in 1965 and Thomas Edward in 1967. The family moved to Pembroke, Mass. in 1968 and lived there for 18 years.

Jane immersed herself in the Pembroke community. At Saint Thecla's as a CCD teacher and vocalist. In politics as a library trustee, member of the Democratic Town Committee and candidate for the Board of Selectman. In the school system as a passionate advocate for education. She made innumerable lifelong friends in Pembroke, Hanover and Halifax that she cherished always.

She worked as a Title I teacher in Plympton and Halifax and as a long-term substitute in Hanover. She was also a fourth-grade teacher in Halifax.

Moving to Sandwich, Mass., in 1986, Jane's longest tenure as a teacher was at James F. Peebles Elementary School in Bourne, Mass where she taught fourth-grade for more than a decade before retiring in 2002. Jane was an active and devoted communicant at Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich, Mass. for decades along with Frank who passed away in 1996.

Jane's passion for gardening and every type of outdoor work, fostered by her father Clarence's same passion, meant she was frequently outside in the dirt creating beauty at her Sandwich home which she shared with the late John Kime who she married in 2003.

Jane moved to Lakeville, Mass. in 2016 to be closer to family. A terrible car accident in June of 2017 caused tremendous damage for Jane, but her indomitable faith and will saw her through multiple surgeries and hospital stays over the next year. The impact Jane made on friends and family throughout her life was apparent from the unforgettable outpouring of concern and support she was shown by so many in the next few years.

The decline caused by her illness affected so much but her appreciation for music remained a constant. She enjoyed singing, toe-tapping and moving her head to the beat as long as she could. The woman who, decades earlier, would make her sons stand next to her at the piano and "Sing right!" as she played songs was a pleasure to serenade the last few years.

Jane's impact on young people throughout her life was vast and lasting. She befriended, mentored, counselled, laughed with and stayed young by developing bonds with younger people. A younger relative this week described Jane as "iconic." One friend of her sons', recalling her impact in Pembroke, said she was "a woman ahead of her time." She could be playful, opinionated, silly, serious, emotional and stoic. All before 9 a.m. Her laugh was legendary.

Jane is survived by her beloved son Michael and his wife Karen of Lakeville, Mass and their children Christopher and Kathleen. Also, by Thomas and Erica Curran of Raynham, Mass. and their sons Sam, Daniel and Timothy. Also, by her brother Martin and his wife Jane of Merrimack, New Hampshire and their children James, Heather and Jeanine who all showed great love and devotion during Jane's decline.

Jane is also survived by many nieces, nephews and Kathleen Kime, daughter of her late husband, John. She was predeceased by her most lasting family influences, Leo and Kathleen Kilgallen and Gertrude Ellsworth.

Jane would also want her lasting gratitude expressed to the wonderful nurses and CNAs at the Arbors in Taunton and the nurses and CNAs from Compassionate Care Hospice. The care she received in the final seven years of her life at multiple facilities gave her family a deep and lasting appreciation for the selflessness of nurses and caregivers.

Jane's wake will be Friday, January 3 from 4 pm. To 7 p.m. at Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home, 280 Bedford Street Lakeville, Mass. Her funeral mass will be Saturday, January 4 at 11:00AM at Corpus Christi Parish 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Road Sandwich, Mass. A committal service will follow the mass at Sandwich Town Cemetery.

Donations in Jane's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. https://alzfdn.org/donate/ .

In lieu of flowers, we encourage folks to please plant a tree, shrub or flower in Jane's memory when the weather is right. Or just think of her while you are weeding this spring.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jane A. (Kilgallen) Curran-Kime, please visit our floral store.