Passed away peacefully after a short illness on May 22, 2015 at the Victoria Hospice, once a maternity ward of the Royal Jubilee Hospital where she was born on March 11, 1956. She will be dearly missed by her husband Brian Kelly, sons Brendan (Vivienne) Terence and Samuel, grandson Finn, brother Mark, sister Kathy and many extended family members and friends in Canada, Scotland and Ireland. Jane grew up in Victoria, attended Mt Douglas Secondary School and graduated with a BFA from UVic in 1977. She worked for the provincial government and later at the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal before settling in North Vancouver where her boys were born. Jane spent most of the past 20 years living abroad in Dublin and achieved great success as a curator of numerous art exhibitions. She travelled extensively around Europe with her family and took real pleasure in exploring the art and culture wherever she went. Jane was a truly thoughtful, kind and cheerful person, beautiful in form and spirit, who was loved by everyone who knew her.
Her family would like to thank all of the staff at the Jubilee and especially the hospice nurses who cared for her so tenderly in her final days.
‘Solas na bhFlaitheas uirthi’
No service. A celebration of Jane’s life will be held at a later date.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
27 Responses
I’m so sorry to hear of Janes passing. I worked with her in Dublin and just adored her vivacious positive energy.
She spoke often of her boys and Brian who I’m sure miss her terribly. I am deeply saddned and want to wish all her family and close friends my sincerest condolences
It was a shock to hear recently of Jane’s passing. Kathy and I and our girls spent many happy days and nights with Brian, Jane and the boys when our children were babies and toddlers. The Kelly-Ross cottage on Kinloch Lane was the scene of many a riotous two-generation celebration of life in the moment, and dreams shared of the future. It is clear from the words above that many of Jane’s dreams and ambitions were later fulfilled, though cut short too soon. Jane lives vividly in our memories, making her loss that much harder to comprehend.
I’m so sorry to hear and very sad to learn that Jane is no longer with us. We spent many summers at the lake at Auntie Debbie and Uncle Peters summer home. We did not stay in touch after our lives got busy with work and families, however I was more in touch through her sister, Kathy and Auntie Debbie. My heart goes to all her family near and far and know that I (as well as my sister, Martina and brother Michael and our mother Isabel) send our deepest sympathies. We will always have our memories of Jane. God bless you all.
Very saddened to hear of Jane’s death. I knew her from Deep Cove.
She was generous, a talented artist and a caring wife and mother. She had a great sense of humour.
I hope that she was comfortable and felt loved when she died.
Condolences to Brian, Brendan, Terence and Samuel. I remember you all from happier times.
I hope that eventually your family will pass through the grief of losing such a graceful soul.
Deeply shocked at this news. Its testament to Jane that so many years later I can hear her voice so very clearly in my mind. She was caring, understanding and insightful with me and many others in the Irish art world ; her intelligence matched by her charisma and smile. Grateful to have known you Jane in this life. Thinking of the family. Marty Kelly
Such sad news. Jane you were a beautiful lady. Deepest sympathy to Brian and family and her family we never met in Canada. Rest in Peace.
Tom and Kay Gibbons
You will be sadly missed Jane. It’s rare to meet such an intelligent, thoughtful and kind person. I was very lucky to have met you. You never got to meet my girls, they would have loved you. May you rest in peace. Lorna Gibbons Sweeney x