1925 – 2025
Jane passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on January 25, 2025 in her home in Pennington, New Jersey.
Jane lived an amazing life – she was well-read, well-traveled, and had an abundance of friends and neighbors who adored her.
Jane’s first love was her family: children – Kenton Van Hise, Melissa Van Hise, and Jennifer Czyzewski, son-in-law Randy Czyzewski, and 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Jane also loved her friends and neighbors, as they were an extension of her family. By the end of her life, she had outlived many. She continued to make new friends all along the way. She loved her home and constantly had visitors. Jane came from a family of strong, determined women. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also enterprising. During a time when opportunities for women were limited, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Trenton State Teachers College in 1946. As a young teacher, she approached the craft with creativity, style, and devotion to her elementary-aged students for 10 years before she left to raise her family.
Jane met her husband, Earl, on Long Beach Island when she was 16. He went off to war, and when he returned they married in 1947. They moved to Pennington, NJ in 1948, building the house she lived in for the remainder of her life. In Pennington, she and Earl raised their 3 children, Kenton, Melissa, and Jennifer.
She returned to teaching in Hamilton Township as a basic skills teacher until she retired in her early 60’s. At an age when most people would be slowing down, Jane was just getting started. There was to be a 2nd and 3rd act. She became a docent at the statehouse. She tutored at the correctional facility in Trenton. She traveled all over the world with her sister, Ruth. She was an ardent gardener, and she also became a devoted grandmother.
Perhaps most impressively, Jane decided to start a business from scratch at age 63. With the support of her husband, Earl, Jane founded High Ho Silver, a specialty jewelry business. When Earl died in 2001, she realized her nascent business was the best distraction from grief. She taught herself how to buy jewelry, how to merchandise, and found sales venues for her jewelry. She learned that going direct had real advantages and traveled numerous times to Thailand, China, and India. Her customers loved her as well as her product. She approached her business with the same high standards she held for herself in all aspects of her life. She demonstrated extraordinary style and took a genuine interest in helping her customers find the best choices for themselves. She retired from her jewelry business at the age of 93 after 30 years.
In most recent years, Jane remained busy. She was always on the phone, going to exercise class, and having lunch with the teachers. Her best buddy was 9 year-old Phillip from next door. Her neighbors embraced her, making it possible for her to keep her treasured independence, living on her own until her last days. She was anything but typical for her age. When she entered a room, her grace and beauty could not be missed. Every day, she got up, dressed beautifully, put on her makeup and met the day with joy and energy. She turned heads, and she was still turning heads at age 99.
Jane loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally and was so very proud of them. 27 years ago, the family learned of the severe neurological impairment of her grandson, Harrison Miles. Faced with the new reality, she adapted, learned about his disease, and adjusted to Harrison’s way of approaching the world with unconditional love and the understanding of a teacher.
The outpouring of love and affection has been astonishing and gratifying to her family. Please join us on February 22nd for a “Celebration of Life Service” at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church (300 S Main St, Pennington, NJ 08534) at 11:00a.m. There will also be a luncheon following at 1:00 p.m. at Hopewell Valley Country Club (114 Pennington-Hopewell Rd, Hopewell, NJ 08525).
As an expression of sympathy, donations can be made in memory of Jane Van Hise and in honor of her beloved grandson, Harrison Miles, who suffers from Tuberous Sclerosis, by clicking the link below: https://tscalliance.org/donate.
Donations in memory of Jane Van Hise, honoring Harrison Miles can also be mailed to:
The TSC Alliance 8737 Colesville Road, Suite 400 Silver Spring, MD 20910
