Jane Heckman Obituary

I shared a room with Jane at the Department of Peace conference in Kalamazoo Michigan a few years back. That was how I met this incredible woman. She had so much love and vitality and shared it willingly to all she met. The Peace community has lost a champion. Rest in peace dear Jane.

I only met Ms. Heckman once but was impressed by her wit, personality, and obvious strength of spirit. Take Back the Night- DuPage recently established a scholarship to assist students studying in areas supporting our mission statement, one that Jane would support whole-heartedly. To that end, we have named our scholarship to honor her. Her own mission will live on.

Farewell to a dedicated and generous spirit. Our family knew her and her work for some 50 years, and I was blessed to share hot chocolate with her just a few short months ago. She always remembered my mother (Eselean Henderson) with fondness. May you rest in peace, Jane.

Jane was powerful woman. She found a way, and when there wasn't a way - she seemed to make one! Thank you, Jane, for all your work to make communities safer and better for us all. Her work has reached generations of women. Her spirit and work live on.

Jane's impact on society is unmeasurable. She has influenced the lives of women and girls for decades; providing safe havens and the warm of her hugs...there is no way to describe the eternal effects she will have on generations to come. Thank you, Jane, for your unconditional love and friendship. DuPage County is a better place because of you...Flowerfield is a lovely neighborhood...thanks to your hundreds of daffodils! We bid you Peace.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jane a few years ago at Take Back the Night. She always had so much energy, she was such a wonderful person, I will deeply miss her and I do believe that we will see each other again. You will never be forgotten and your smile will always be shining in my heart.

Miss you deeply dear friend of mine.

Jane opened many doors for me. We met through YW activities, She encouraged me to be more aware and active in promoting peace and understanding by encouraging me to: visit the Women protesting Nuclear War at Greenham Commons in England; produce a black history play which my 3rd graders enacted; become a DWAR volunteer providing sexual assault services; become a Church World Service Board Member; and create and run an Elderhostel with an Interdependence theme as part of my MSW work. Jane enabled me and so many others to take positive steps for personal and worldwide peace. I am grateful for her friendship and guidance.

There’s a time in this life for everyone when the world seems to overtake you. Only a few people have the cleverness to notice that in the others. Jane Heckman not only had the skills to turn this world, this society into something better, but also to feel the subtle and hidden problems of others and take care of that. For some of us Jane was like a mother, because it didn’t matter who are you, where are you from, it was just… are you ok? Do you need something? Those were the first words of Jane to me some years ago when she just saw a person passing a bad moment in life. Because of her kindness, high values and tolerance I just learnt that any problem is possible to solve. I always had her in my mind; it doesn’t matter time or distance. And she’s not gone; she remains in our minds telling us with her exceptional life how to do a better world, when to help others, how to avoid the indifference.

Be at peace and give us inspiration

To anyone visiting this guest book, a memorial service / celebration of Jane's life is planned for Saturday, July 24th at 11:30am at the Hinsdale Unitarian Church, Hinsdale, Illinois 60521. The service will be followed by a buffet/picnic in the church lawn (around 1:15 or so).

Please join us as we remember and celebrate our beloved Jane Chippendale Stewart Heckman.

Peace and Love to all those who have been posting messages.

I wish I'd met Jane a few years earlier, but I'm very glad for the time I was able to spend with her. My introduction to Jane was when I marched in a parade with her. She immediately struck me as a remarkable woman. I was immediately enchanted by her guileless charm, as were all she encountered that day. At the time, I had no idea how important she had been to the community--she never mentioned her accomplishments--but it's clear to me how she acheived so much.

I miss you, Jane.

I had the honor of working with Jane for many years through the YWCA in Lombard. When I think of her and all she taught me it makes me recall a brief poem I read somewhere that went something like this - "some people come into our lives and quickly go, others remain in our hearts forever" Jane is and will continue to be in my heart forever. I learned so much from her - not just the technical but the inspirational. She was a remarkable woman. Anne Borg, Chicago, IL.

Jane started so many programs in DuPage that benefited countless women and children. I know I have benefited personally from her work. I am sorry I can not be with you...but know that day you will all be in my heart.

I knew of Jane from 1985 to present. She was an inspriration to me and a mentor in my life. I will always think of her as a leader for women in DuPage and as having a beautiful outlook on life. I will always appreciate our small talks we had in her last year of life.

There can be no doubt Jane is organizing the angels in Heaven. I remember first meeting her and the first words out of her mouth were "Oh, you're with the union. Do you know so-and-so?" It was a perfect introduction to what Jane did so well--connect people to other folks with whom they shared common interest so they could simply get together. It's what every organizer knows how to do. Her presence will be greatly missed, but there would be no organization of some of the voices for peace and justice in DuPage County without her. Her legacy will last a long time. I owe my participation in DuPage politics to Ms. Heckman.

Jane was the Pied Piper of DuPage. I will never forget her leadership, and encouragement. She always focused on getting the young people involved, and would show them the way.

Her intelligence is boundless and refreshing. Jane will live on.

Jane hired me at the YWCA in Lombard many years ago she began to tell me about the cause she loved so much. She was always so inspiring and always teaching others.

Jane was my first sister-in-law, from 1944-1956. I have only the fondest memories of her, and well remember best when we enjoyed tent camping beside Jenny Lake in Yellowstone Park with with Tom and my husband, Jack Stewart. Later, in 1968, Jane and Mark visited me and my three children in Yorktown Heights. Jane and her inspiring mother were two of the most remarkable women I ever met.--Jean Stewart Friedman, Cedar Crest, Pompton Plains, NJ.

We were benificiaries of Janes' unconditional warmth. She pierced my heart and that of my families. I will never forget her and my son has been forever changed.

Jim, Kathy and Ian

We will miss a great lady and friend. We had hoped to have her join us at the Meadows in Glen Ellyn, IL.

I knew Jane initially through her effort to save the Chicago YWCA summer camp in Michigan against economic realities. Later through the Lombard DuPage YWCA and then OWL and miscellaneous causes. Nothing daunted her if she believed the cause would provide for needs of girls and women overlooked by society..

I knew Jane as an OWL activist, fighting for justice for midlife and older women. We are inspired by her activism for social justice, and her influence persists within each of the many, many people she has touched. I certainly plan to join you all to celebrate her life on July 24! Margaret Hellie Huyck, Ph.D., V.P. OWL National Board; Secretary of Chicago/Hyde Park OWL chapter; Past-president of OWL Illinois; Professor Emeritus, Illinos Institute of Technology

Jane...words can not express the light she brought into this world. She will remain an inspiration to all who were lucky enough to cross her path.

Jane's lifelong activism changed many lives and left its mark on Lombard and way beyond. When Jane called to ask a favor, there was no way to refuse her. I will miss her very much.

Jane, you were one intelligent, happy and spectacular person. Will miss our talks.

Jane was one of a kind, dedicated to so many causes, and yet they were all the same - how to improve the social fabric of society - the human condition. She brought out our best, helped us help others when we didn't know how, and changed so many lives for the better. Every girl was her daughter to mentor, every child her main concern, every new mother the root of the next generation. She will be missed.

I'm relatively new to this area and had the privilege of meeting Jane just a couple of times with Operation Turn DuPage Blue. It's ironic how such a slight elderly woman has been so huge in life with her impact on the world.
She clearly was one of the giants who walk amongst us!

My memory of Jane is one of boundless energy and enthusiasm for life. She took a chance on hiring me, many years ago and I will be forever grateful to her for her support and encouragement. Her spirit will be missed in this life, but I am sure it will live on forever in those hundreds of lives she touched......including mine.

Jane had a great sense of humor that added sparkle to her humanitarianism and activism. She livened up our programs. Jane was never too busy to lend a hand, lend an ear or to offer suggestions. And how she loved introducing people to one another!

I did not know about Jane Heckman's passing until I read the Daily Herald last evening (Saturday). I had tried to contact her earlier in the day. Obviously it's been quite some time since I've had contact with her. She's been such a tremendous help to so many people, including myself. She epitomized the very best in social work and without question was in the same league as Jane Addams and Margaret Mead. I know I join so many others from various walks of life who deeply mourn her loss but will forever savor so many great memories of her.