Obituary of Jane Reeve

Jane Woelfel Reeve, passed away on April 29, 2017 after a brief illness. Jane was born in Newark New York on July 19th, 1923, the daughter of Erwin R. Woelfel, the superintendant of Newark School System, and Jane (Jenny) Ransdorf Woelfel. Jane was a lifelong athlete from an early age, and enjoyed basketball, tennis and swimming. Jane graduated from Newark High School and Oberlin College. Apart from her time in college and briefly afterwards, she was a proud lifelong resident of western New York, who was born and raised in Newark, and lived in Buffalo, Canandaigua, and from 1959 until her death in Perinton and Fairport. She worked as an early childhood educator in the New York State public school system until 1963, and as a pre-school teacher at Christ Clarion Nursery School in Pittsford until her retirement. Following her retirement from teaching, Jane went on to a much-loved second career continuing to help children by volunteering for many years as a Court-appointed special advocate for children involved in the legal system. Jane also delivered meals on wheels and volunteered at the East Rochester Resource Center. She was married to Jay Alvin Reeve, Jr. in 1948, after a whirlwind romance, and was his devoted partner until his untimely death in 1966, at age 45, shortly after the birth of their only child, Jay Alvin Reeve III. Jane did not subsequently remarry, but raised their son on her own. Although raised in the Presbyterian Church, she became an Episcopalian shortly after her marriage and was a faithful communicant and active member of St. John's in Canandaigua, St. Matthias in East Rochester, and at the time of her death, the Church of the Incarnation in Penfield. Jane treasured her work with children, both as a teacher and court advocate, and loved her many friends throughout the country. Jane loved travel, art, fine clothes, and athletics, but did not relish cooking. She is survived by her son Jay Reeve and his wife Kate Lyon, her in-laws Pat Reeve and Bill Roodenburg, and her beloved nieces and nephews and their husbands, wives, children and pets: Jane Roodenburg and David Crossman; Holly and Duncan Rose; Fred Reeve and Shelli Powell; Bill Roodenburg and Glenda Denton; and numerous other loving relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Incarnation, Penfield NY, on Friday, May 5, 2017, at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to CASA of Rochester/Monroe County, Inc.