Jane B. McNeil

Jane B. (Kirley) McNeil, age 76, passed away peacefully in her East Walpole, Massachusetts home, surrounded by her loving family, on Wednesday, August 5, 2015. Born in Staten Island, New York on July 6, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Francis J. and Blanche A. (Kuhrt) Kirley. She was raised, with her identical twin sister Janet, in Roslindale before moving to West Roxbury in 1955. She graduated from Roslindale High School with the class of 1957, and continued her education at Boston State Teachers College/UMass Boston, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Education.

Jane married the love of her life, Russell K. McNeil on November 10, 1962. They made their home together in Roslindale before settling in West Roxbury, where they welcomed three of their children, Nancy, Robert, and William.

She took a position teaching grammar school at the Beethoven School and later the Joyce Kilmer School while living in West Roxbury. After taking a position with the Ashland Public School System, she taught at the Elementary School.

In 1969, Jane and Russell moved to East Walpole, Massachusetts to raise their young family and welcomed their youngest child, Jennifer. As an active member of the Union Congregational Church on Rhoades Avenue, Jane loved attending Sunday Services every week and developed lifelong connections with her church friends, who became a second family to her. She served as a Deacon, a Sunday School Teacher, and on various committees.

Jane continued her teaching career at the Pre School Center, located in Saint Mary's Church Parish Hall in East Walpole, which in 2000, became Neponset Valley Child Care in Norwood. She retired in the early 2000's with over 30 years of dedicated service to her students.

In her retirement, Jane loved spending time with her husband in their Cape Cod home in South Yarmouth. In addition, she enjoyed spending some of the winter months in the Florida Keys at their time share in Marathon, Florida with her dear friends. She was an avid reader, especially enjoying mysteries and she enjoyed playing scrabble, which later evolved to playing Words with Friends with her many friends on Facebook. She also had a love for Labrador Retrievers and had many as companions throughout her life.

Jane's grandchildren meant the world to her, she cherished all the time she spent with them, and loved knowing that she had such a huge influence on all of their lives.

Beloved wife of the late Russell K. McNeil.
Loving mother of Nancy J. McNeil-Dunlap and her husband Scott of North Attleboro, Robert B. McNeil and his wife Barbara of Taunton, William F. McNeil and his wife Jennie of Bridgewater, and Jennifer B. McNeil of East Walpole.
Cherished grandmother of Nicole, Julie-Anne, Joseph, Robert, Kimberly, Russell, Dwyn, and Jessie.
Sister of Janet F. Grant and her husband Chick of East Walpole.
Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Jane's Life Celebration on Monday, August 10, 2015 from 4-8 PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Funeral Service will be held in the Union Congregational Church, 55 Rhoades Avenue, East Walpole on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Union Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 55 Rhoades Avenue, East Walpole, MA 02032.