Elizabeth Jane Easton

Elizabeth Jane Easton passed away peacefully on Friday.

Jane was born on June 28, 1934, in Sewickley Hospital and grew up on Neville Island. Jane was the eldest child of Melda Hefley Black and William Hoblitzell Black of Neville Island; and the granddaughter of Franklin and Flora Snyder Black of Somerset. Flora Black was a prominent and active Somerset community member who organized and founded the Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania in 1914.

Jane was predeceased by her loving husband, Albert Warren Easton, whom she affectionately called Albee.

While in high school, Jane met the love of her life, Albert Warren Easton. Together, they were popular and well-known in school and, as everyone would soon find out, inseparable.

In their senior year at Neville Island High School, they were crowned May Queen and King — one of Jane's favorite memories.

Soon after high school, Jane and Albert married on March 31, 1955. Shortly thereafter, Jane and Albert moved together with dear friends, Ralph and Mary Sullivan to Cranberry Township on Robinhood Drive. While living in Cranberry, the couples became friends with neighbors John and Helen Bird. The three couples maintained their friendships and supported one another through decades of births, weddings, deaths, and many of life's happiest and saddest moments. Jane and Albert developed close and cherished friendships with neighbors and coworkers, many of whom are friends to this day.

Jane was an extremely talented woman. She had a flair for decorating, painting, cooking and dressing. Jane would always present herself from head to toe in fashionable attire and was known for her beautiful nails, which she would always paint to match a season or particular outfit. Together, she and Albert created many different handmade artworks, crafts, furniture and treasures. Jewelry, birdhouses, playhouses, lighthouses and assorted other crafts, which Albert would construct and Jane would custom paint, was a source of year-round enjoyment for the couple. Some of their more memorable pieces are the furnishings they built and painted together for their children, grandchildren and special friends.

An enthusiastic Pittsburgh sports fan, Jane learned the ins and outs of football, baseball, hockey, golf and even basketball from her father. She shared her love for the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins with her son and grandson — she could sometimes outdo men she knew by spouting a particular stat, player, coach or score. Franco Harris was her favorite Steelers player and for many years, she kept his picture on their refrigerator, much to Albert's chagrin.

Once both Jane and Albert retired, they focused on their home and family. Spending time with their children and grandchildren in Virginia was a priority. They took great pride in their home as well, but when grandchildren Hilary, Morgan and Cameron were in town, the focus was on the kids — and they delighted in every milestone and achievement in both their children's and grandchildren's lives.

Jane and Albert's yard was another artistic expression of the couple and included Albert's handmade pond and their splendid garden of sedum, lazy Susans, peonies, impatiens, clematis, multiple varieties of hydrangeas and even rhubarb. To this day, Jane's grandchildren always acknowledge their Grammy whenever they see hydrangeas.

As a wife, mother and grandmother, Jane made every event in her family's lives extra-special. Hands down one of the best cooks in Western Pennsylvania, her own love of cuisine inspired many of her family's favorite dishes. Her potato salad was legendary among all who knew her and was one of her most-requested dishes at events and holidays. Jane was happiest when she could prepare her family's favorite meals to enjoy.

With such a full life, one would never realize that this amazing woman was also a career girl. While still on Neville Island, she was employed by shipbuilding company Dravo Corp. Once her children had grown, she worked at Tower Federal Bank in Cranberry, moving up from teller to manager.

Once Albert passed, Jane embraced her independence. She continued to hand-paint birthday and Christmas cards for loved ones, became a voracious reader and learned how to use a smart phone so she could keep up with her cherished and beloved grandchildren's lives, via social media.

Left to honor Jane's memory are her daughter, Rebecca J. Boestfleisch, and her husband, Kurt, and her daughters Hilary and Morgan Harrison; and Jane's son, A. Scott Easton, and his wife, Lynn, and their son, Cameron Easton.

Jane is also survived by her sister, Mary Ann Black Victor, and her husband, Harry, and their children Christy Victor Palopoli and Bill Victor; as well as countless nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and loved ones.

EASTON — Professional services for Elizabeth Jane Easton, who died Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, were entrusted to Thomas M. Smith Funeral Home & Crematory, Blawnox.In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Elizabeth Jane Easton's name to North Hills Health & Rehabilitation in Wexford. Becky and Scott would like to thank the facility and their staff for the kind and expert care of their mother these past few months.Please visit www.thomasmsmithfh.com.