Obituary of Jane Marie Faulkner

Jane Marie Faulkner, 55, devoted wife and mother, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, passed away at Hartford Hospital on July 1, surrounded by her beloved family. Born to Albert and Caroline Reinhardt of Glastonbury, CT on May 28, 1967, she learned the example of a loving family who treasured time together. Jane loved to reminisce fondly about ski vacations in the Rockies, summer trips to the beach, winter weekends at Killington, Vermont, and especially trips to her parents’ native Wisconsin to visit with her innumerable aunts, uncles, and cousins. Jane was a graduate of Glastonbury High School and Providence College, where her lifelong love of literature earned her a Bachelor Degree in English. She started her professional career at G. Fox before moving to the Travelers Insurance Companies, where she met her husband Jim, whom she married in 1999. She finished at Northeast Utilities, before embarking on her true calling as a mother.  Jane combined her love of children, education and her faith as a Religious Education teacher for the Church of St. Dunstan, where she and her sister Marybeth co-taught their sons and other St. Dunstan children from Kindergarten through Grade 6. Jane also served the Glastonbury Public Schools for many years as a Special Education Paraprofessional and substitute teacher, especially enjoying opportunities in English classes at GHS, where the teachers with whom she developed a warm relationship often requested her specifically. Jane was also actively involved in the Glastonbury PTSO until the end, serving a term as Co-President and several years as Chair of the Red Apple Awards Committee honoring other individuals who provided extraordinary service to the schools. Jane was a friend to all who met her, and always had time to chat in person or on the phone. Among her favorite pastimes, she was a lifelong devotee of “Days of Our Lives,” enjoyed home improvement shows and romance novels, but the Hallmark Channels seemed to have been invented just for her, with the Christmas movies her particular favorite. She was a keen gardener and zealous housekeeper, frequently reminding everyone “I just cleaned that.” She also cherished her afternoons and outings with “the girls,” and annual scrapbooking weekends in Cape Cod with Marybeth and dear friend Susan Wright. Above all, she prized time with her family, whether hosting or visiting, and the frequent weekend dinners, summer days at Coventry Lake, Columbus Day getaways to Vermont, birthday and other milestone celebrations. She reveled in boat rides at the lake, especially sunset cruises and the annual fireworks and boat parade. She was also an enthusiastic “Uno” player and loved to join in the games and crafts on the deck at the lake. She leaves a husband of nearly 23 years, Jim, and her proudest achievements, her children Lauren and Evan. She also leaves her parents Albert and Caroline Reinhardt; her sister Annemarie; her sister and best friend Marybeth Bonadies and her husband Mark, her nephew and Godson Max; her unofficially adopted son Brian Wood, all of Glastonbury; additionally, her Faulkner in-laws: Lucette of West Hartford; John of Bemidji, MN; Paul, Sue and Ryan of Granby; and Ruth of San Francisco, CA; as well as countless relatives in Milwaukee, and the many friends she made along the way. All who knew her loved her and will miss her terribly. A mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday July 13 at 11am in St. Dunstan Church, 1345 Manchester Rd., Glastonbury. Friends may call at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury on Tuesday July 12 from 5-7pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Glastonbury PTSO. For online condolences   please visit www.mulryanfh.com.