Jane H. Abel

Jane H. Abel of Lancaster passed away at the age of 90 on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at Willow Valley Retirement Community, surrounded by her loving family. She was the widow of Frank J. Abel who died in 2001.

Born in Lancaster in 1920, she was the daughter of the late Frank A. and Elise Hurter Heckendorn. From her father, a hard working blacksmith on Pine Street, and her devoted mother she learned important lessons that would carry her through life.

Jane attended city schools and was in the first graduating class of McCaskey High School in 1938. She then attended Temple University School of Nursing in Philadelphia. Married in 1940, she was happy to celebrate 62 wedding anniversaries. She was a long-time member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Quarryville, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Lancaster.

Jane was predeceased by her only brother Franklin Heckendorn and her sister Frances Hager.

She is survived by three daughters: Judith A. Warfel, wife of W. Donald Warfel, Jane A. Albright, wife of Richard H. Albright, Jr., D.D.S., and Anne A. Butterfield, wife of Jay V. Butterfield, D.Ed., and one son Frank M. Abel, V.M.D., husband of Margery M. Abel. Jane was the grandmother of six grandsons and six granddaughters, as well as 23 great-grandchildren who fondly remember her as “Little Grandma Abel”. Small in stature but genuinely large in grace and kindness, she always carried herself with pride and dignity, sharing her outgoing personality with everyone. She could be heard singing throughout the daytime hours. A wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she spent her adult life caring for and being surrounded by her family – the center of her life.

Jane’s grateful family expresses heartfelt appreciation to everyone at Willow Valley Retirement Community, as well as Hospice of Lancaster County, for their devoted service. She always had an optimistic smile for each of them as they did for her. She will be greatly missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 10 AM, Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Historic St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 119 S. Prince St., Lancaster, PA 17603, with The Rev. Leo M. Goodman, III as Celebrant. Relatives and Friends will be received at the church on Saturday from 9 to 10 AM. Private interment will be at the discretion of the family. In lieu of flowers, Contributions can be made in Jane’s memory to Mom’s House, 415 S. Queen St., P.O. Box 787, Lancaster, PA 17608-0787.
To send the family online condolences, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 717-560-5100