Jane Woodley Spruill, loving wife, mother, and grandmother passed away Tuesday, November 8, 2022, after a brave battle with lymphoma. She is survived by her husband, Murray, her daughter Joanna (Adam Kovalcik), her grandson Owen, and many special cousins and friends. Jane loved her family, dedicated her life seeing to their needs and doing all she could to secure their happiness.
Jane graduated from Creswell High School. She received a BS degree in Home Economics from East Carolina University, a master's degree and a PHD degree in Human Development from The University of Maryland, College Park. While she held numerous positions: teacher, 4-H agent, lecturer, she saw her primary role as her family caretaker. At that, she did excel.
Jane was a proud mother of Joanna. She was involved in her life, volunteering at schools, running her to piano lessons, practices, and encouraging her. She taught Joanna how to be the smart, independent, nurturing person she is today. In high school, she chauffeured Joanna and friends to basketball games, cheering them on. When Joanna was sick with breast cancer, Jane was with her at every step. Knitting hats, cooking, cleaning, and even finding Joanna and Adam a house just down the street from her! Jane delighted in her grandson Owen and taught him to dribble a basketball, hit a pickle ball, build sandcastles, ride a tricycle, and cook. He loved grabbing her iPad and would crawl up in her lap to watch family videos and pictures. While Jane was an only child, she readily embraced Murray's large and affectionate family. She loved them, looked after them and was generous with them. She adored her cousin Mary Ruth and enjoyed her conversations with Mary Ruth and Sue, her cousin Sam's wife. She was always sending them pictures of Owen and was happy they loved receiving them.
Jane would admit she was not athletic, but she was an avid sports fan. She loved to watch most any sport - tennis, football, basketball, particularly college basketball. She was always texting her son-in-law during the games to point out mistakes, plays, and to make sure he was watching. She would call and remind friends when particular matches and games were on. During games where "her teams" were playing she was always arguing with the refs, the coach, and kept a running commentary on the plays.
Jane was loving, caring, and a pro-organizer. If there was someone in need she was there with food and visits. No one she loved did without. She carried her homemade chicken pot pies to the sick. If you were in need, she was there with a meal or organizing one for you. She was a wonderful cook and was always ready to bake. When she was healthy, you could generally find homemade chocolate chip cookie batter in the freezer so she could bake Murray a warm cookie just whenever he wanted or needed one. Her friends have indicated that they will miss her laughter, the way she could conjure up memories from long ago and describe her as "the best of us." Another said, "to know her is to love her." She was smart, funny, and loyal! She will be missed!
A celebration of her life will be held at North Raleigh United Methodist Church on Friday, November 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m., where she was a member and active in the Women's Group.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Saint David's Episcopal Cemetery in Creswell. Family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service.
Memorials can be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer outreach and research or to her church.
Arrangements are by Maitland Funeral Home, Plymouth and Renaissance Funeral Home, Raleigh.
