[Oe List ...] A colleague of Yore Gees into the Light

[Marilyn R Crocker]

Dear Judi,

What a gift to those who knew and loved Jane beginning in the 1970s (like
Joe and me) to benefit from your care in reconnecting with Jane on face
book and then to share this news of her completed life.  We would love it
if you could forward some memories we have to Jody and Cindy, since we
don't have their contact information.

The last time we saw Jane was when we flew with her from Rochester to
Pittsburgh (and then each of us went in different directions).  The OE
Centrum priory had assigned us to meet with Jane to try to convince her
to not leave the Order, and we caught up with her just as she was leaving
a visit at her sister's (I think?) and so we changed our flight
arrangements (we had just arrived in Rochester) so that we could travel
at least a brief leg in the air and talk.  We did talk, all the way, but
as always when our Order got around to assigning someone to "talk," it
was too late.  Jane was determined to return to Indian Country (she had
experienced the profound culture at the Inyan Wakagapi Consult and felt
called to serve.)

I felt she was most deeply torn at that time in relation to what her
decision would mean to her two daughters. I sensed that she believed that
the new path she was following was the most healthy model of feminine
humanness she could offer.

Before all that, in the late 70s early 80s , I was given the assignment
to work with the Student House, specifically on the annual show as a
support to Thelma (a gifted dramatic guide, but one who, because she
nipped more frequently than she realized, was often compromised.) Jane
was the pianist/music director for the ambitious production of South
Pacific and in the midst of Thelma's ups and downs provided the
continuity that allowed the production to continue.

I don't think we, in the Order, ever fully appreciated our colleagues
whose gifts were in the vein of Jane's -- voice, instrument, music,
drama, dance.  I think of Ann Slicker, a Julliard School of Music concert
pianist, whose light was held under a bushel for decades.

And so in celebration of Jane, an ebullient, enthusiast of life, and a
singer and maker of instrumental music that beckoned so many of us to
join in,  Joe and I give thanks, and give thanks once again and again,
for knowing Jane -- her beauty and talent -- and stand present to her
radical selfhood as woman who cared deeply and unconditionally.

Jody and Cindy, may you always stand in the strength of your beautiful
and talented mother, and borrow from her power.

Grace, peace and love,

Marilyn and Joe



 
On Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:21:05 -0500 Judi White
<sophiacircle at windstream.net> writes:
> most of you will remmeer Jane (Boocher) LeBlanc. Joanna posted this 
> notice on facebook. She went into the Light Monday afternoon, 
> resting peacefully under hospice care in Avon, NY..  I had 
> reconnected with Jane on facebook. I talked to her on the phone in 
> August. At that time she was about to begin a new round of 
> chemotherapy. She was  writing down, for her daughters why she had 
> chosen this particular life of service as the Order Ecumenical. Jane 
> was a most special woman,with a gentle, peaceful and loving Soul. 
> She cherished her family and her life was dedicated to instilling 
> the love of music in her students.  I have copied and posted what 
> Jody - Joanna Collins - and Cindy Little - on facebook last night.
> 
> Jane was very active as a music teacher and as a development 
> director for more than 30 years. She was a Rotarian and song leader 
> of Rochester Rotary Club for 12 years. Jane was also the Choir 
> Director at First Presbyterian Church of Avon.
> Jane’s commitment to serving the underserved took her to Fort 
> Berthold Indian Reservation in northwest North Dakota, where she 
> taught school in the village of Mandaree. She also worked with the 
> Fort Berthold Community College as development officer, raising 
> funds to build a new college facility in New Town, N.D. Jane 
> researched early songs of the Mandan and Hidatsa Tribes with the aid 
> of a panel of tribal members, publishing a songbook, “Maa-baa-hi 
> Ma-hac” with an accompanying tape. The college sponsored this 
> project which was supported by North Dakota Council of the Arts She 
> held deep appreciation for the Native culture and great sorrow for 
> the way American Indians were treated since European –American 
> contact.
> Jane believed you could teach so much through music. Whether it was 
> elementary children or adult choir, she strived to reach each and 
> every individual. Her enthusiasm and her humanness made it fun and 
> challenging while learning to sing or play an instrument. Her 
> concern for inner city children led to her involvement both in 
> teaching at #5 and #20 schools and her more recent tutoring of 3rd 
> grade children at #8 School, a project of the Rochester Rotary. She 
> also served as development director at Jordan Health Center and 
> Unity Health Foundation. Teaching children to read and succeed in 
> school led to her work at Quad A for Kids at the Rochester Area 
> Community Foundation. Finally, a part time position at Literacy 
> Volunteers of Rochester concluded her life work just two years ago.
> Jane was a Christian church woman, and asked for the Lord’s 
> guidance throughout her life, sometimes rebelling against it, but 
> always remaining faithful. Her children, Cindy and Joanna, were 
> raised in the 60’s and 70’s; they were daughters of the great 
> revolutions of that time – the urban revolution, the civil rights 
> movement, and the women’s revolution. Whether it was marching on 
> the picket line with mom, or spending years in community development 
> as youth, they were exposed to a greater world than Jane knew 
> growing up in Elba. Today, they are strong women and good mothers. 
> Thank the Lord for such perfect gifts. She loved them dearly.
> 
> --
> Judi White
> 25 North Lake Street
> Crescent City, FL 32112
> Phone: (386) 569-6956
> 
> _______________________________________________
> OE mailing list
> OE at wedgeblade.net
> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/oe_wedgeblade.net
> 
 
 
Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D
Crocker & Associates, Inc.
123 Sanborn Road
West Newfield, ME 04095
(207) 793-3711
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