REMEMBERING JANE

My dear friend Jane Glaviano died on Wednesday, April 30th, 2014. She was being treated for cancer and it got to be too much for her.

Janie was the first friend I made when Peter and I moved to The Villages. Peter and I had gone to Market Square so I could check out the line dancing. Jane and Paul happened to be sitting nearby. Janie asked me whether I knew Mucara Walk, and when I said yes, we danced it together at the next opportunity. We introduced ourselves and brought our husbands together. As they say, the rest is history--Peter and Paul chatted while Janie and I hit the pavement until the guys dragged us away.

Sometimes people just click, and it was like that with us. We were both from California and were born in September. And of course, we LOVED to line dance! Janie was kind, upbeat, easygoing, and always ready to dance, shop, or take a road trip. We roomed together at a couple of dance events, including a great spur-of-the-moment weekend trip to Gatlinburg in 2010, after we'd only known each other for a couple of months. On the way, we sang silly songs, told jokes, shared stories, and took turns driving. Once there, we danced up a storm and partied pretty hearty for a couple of old gals. Here's the slide show I made of our trip.

Some of you may have noticed the sparkly bracelet I wear. Jane gave it to me last year. It reminds me of her and makes me smile to think of how well she knew me and my love of bling. Jane also gave me many intangible gifts, including her friendship and her unconditional support.

I visited her in the hospital in Gainesville before she was transferred to the hospice, and had a chance to meet her daughter, Tracy. I think Jane knew that I was there, although she was unable to respond. On the way home from the hospital, I wracked my brain to think of something to do for her. When I got home, I made a music program with some of her line dance favorites. The program ended up being more than seven hours long, but Jane had been dancing for many years! I copied the program onto an iPod, then took it with me to the hospice that evening. The first song I programmed was East To West. When we put the buds in her ears and turned it on, her feet started moving. You go, Janie!

I believe she was dancing all the way into the light.

She will be missed by her loving family and large group of friends from California to Florida--from "coast to coast." Paul and Tracy held a memorial service in Denver last summer, and planted a tree in her memory

If you would like to share your thoughts about Jane, send them to me and I'll post them below.

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While I was in Denver, I was privileged to meet with Tracy, Paul and other of Jane's family members. The previous day, they held a memorial service for her and buried her ashes under a new tree in Tracy's front yard. The tree is near the rose garden Jane helped Tracy tend each year while she was in Denver. During the ceremony, Denver experienced an 

I knew her when she lived in Denver and I am friends with her on Facebook. She is a great line dancer and I loved standing next to her because she could call the steps to a dance 4 steps ahead that way you are able to keep up with everyone else. Debbie

We shared many a dance with Jane over the years. We always looked forward to chatting with her and sharing time together. Mickey & Charlotte