Jane P. (Wentworth) Neale

Jane P. (Wentworth) Neale, 91, of Jefferson, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, May 27, 2016. She was born in Worcester, a daughter of the late John R. and Addie L. (Porter) Wentworth. Jane attended schools in Holden and graduated from the former Alonzo Learned High School, Holden in 1942. Following college, Jane worked for several different companies in the Worcester area before meeting her future husband, Lawrence C. Neale. They were married in 1953 and enjoyed more than 30 years of marriage until Lawrence’s sudden passing in 1984. During their early married years, Jane and Lawrence travelled throughout western and eastern Europe, driving more than 20,000 miles through the highways and back roads of numerous countries. As Jane and Larry welcomed their one and only daughter, Elizabeth, Jane continued to attend college classes. As Elizabeth grew older, Jane decided to enter college full time and graduated from Anna Maria College in Paxton in 1976 with a degree in Art Education. Thus began her long path of teaching art and sharing her talents with countess students, whether at Wachusett Regional High School, Anna Maria College or privately in her own home studio. Talented in watercolors and oils, Jane loved to show her works publicly. In 1987, she began working in the graphics arts department of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, a job she continued with well into her 70’s. Jane earned her Masters Degree from Clark University at the age of 66. Her talents were not just with a paint brush, but with a pen and paper as well. She created beautiful poetry, published a book about 19th Century missionaries in Massachusetts, as well as the history of the First Congregational Church of Holden, where she served as the church historian. She also had written about the Congregational Church of Brookfield as well as essays and journals of everyday life and travels with her family.  Jane was a longtime member of the First Congregational Church of Holden, the PEO Sisterhood, the National Museum of the American Indian, Old Sturbridge Village, the Holden and Worcester Historical Societies and the Chaffins Woman’s Club. One of her proudest honors was being elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society, an honor Jane truly treasured.  Jane will be truly missed by her only daughter, Elizabeth A. Pacek and her husband, Daniel of Jefferson her two beloved grandchildren, Sasha and Victor Pacek; her sister, Helen G. Miller of Hopkinton; an her only niece, Holly Miller.   Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Jane’s family on THURSDAY, June 2, from 4-7 p.m. at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. Her funeral will be held on SATURDAY, June 4, at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Holden,    Main Street, Holden. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fitchburg Art Museum www.fitchburgartmuseum.org ), 185 Elm Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420 or to the Joy of Music Program ( www.jomp.org ), 1 Gorham Street, Worcester, MA 01605. To share a memory or leave an online condolence for the family