Jane Laetetia Whitaker

Jane Laetetia Whitaker passed peacefully February 17, 2013 lovingly surrounded by her family. She is preceded in death by her husband Robert Carl Whitaker, U.S.M.C., their son William Damian Whitaker, and her sister Dorothy Rogers (Geof). Jane was born in Bronx, NY, December 3rd, 1925, to Edward M. and Alberta (Norton) Spicer. She attended nursing school at the Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, NY where she completed her degree as a registered nurse. She married Bob in 1951 and they had five children, fourteen grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren, and eight nieces and nephews. During the Korean War she worked as a registered nurse for the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps and later served as a community health nurse in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Jane--by sharing and passing along her passion for family, faith, traveling, gardening, cooking, reading, and nature--makes the world more beautiful. As a girl she spent summers exploring the Catskills and as a young mother she ventured with with her young children Rob and Colette to meet up with Bob in the South Pacific. Her love of British culture infused her daily life with afternoon tea and mysteries. Jane and Bob settled down outside of Strasburg, VA and created ""The Farm,"" where she joyfully hosted wedding receptions, Wacky Wednesdays, murder mysteries, Sunday dinners, and large holiday celebrations. She was a devoted member of the St. John Bosco Catholic Parish since 1973, where she was a Lector, a member of the Legion of Mary and the Cursillo, and a weekly Eucharistic adorer. Jane is survived by her son Robert Whitaker (Debra), her daughter Colette McClain (Rodney), her son Richard Whitaker (Judith), and her son Edward Whitaker; her grandchildren Spring Volpe (Francisco), Joshua McClain (Elisabeth), Robert Whitaker (Mary), Seth Whitaker (Kristin), Sarah McClain, Zebulon Whitaker, Letetia Reinitz (Zachary), Cecilia Tompkins (Christian), MaryAnn Seelbach (Damien), Damian McClain, Mathew Whitaker, Thaddeus McClain, Zachary Whitaker, and Gabrielle McClain; her great-grandchildren Allison Singleton, Giovanni Volpe, Brittany Singleton, Ethan Reinitz, Charly Whitaker, Sophie Volpe, Isabel Reinitz, Aidan Whitaker, Owen McClain, Hannah Whitaker, Edwin McClain, Madeline Reinitz, Myra Volpe, Wyatt Whitaker, Gillian McClain, Ava Reinitz, Rodney McClain, Verity Seelbach, Alexander Reinitz, Gabriel Tompkins, and Letitia McClain. To her grateful family, Jane is an affectionate matriarch who helped weave a closely-knit community of family and friends. To each heart she touched in a personal way, the memory of her strength and grace will continue to be a source of inspiration. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jane's name to The Catholic Relief Service. By phone call 1-877-435-7277 or by mail: Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203. Messages may be sent to edorionsys@gmail.com. Wake: Dellinger Funeral Home, 159 N. Main St. Woodstock, VA 22664 Date & Time: Thursday Feb 21st from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm; with rosary at 6:30 pm. Funeral: Mass at St. John Bosco Catholic Church, 315 N. Main St. Woodstock, VA 22664. Date & Time: Friday Feb 22nd at 11:00 am

Jane Laetetia Whitaker

February 19, 2013