Jane Laidlaw Lyth
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Jane Laidlaw Lyth
(Mother Jane)
10/11/1951 – 01/16/2023
Rochester, NY –
Jane was raised in Hammond, NY. She is predeceased by her parents Merle and Helena Laidlaw. She is survived by her sister Amy Laidlaw Quattrociocchi, brother-in-law Michael Quattrociocchi, niece Laura Quattrociocchi (Patrick Griffin), and nephew Max Quattrociocchi (Jamie Cobb), great nephews Ebon, Rowan, Kieran, Leo, “Little Buddy” Logan Tyler, Godson, Eric Ramsperger and Caitlin Ramsperger, Byron Lyth III and Kelly Lyth, and Cindy Parnell. Also many relatives and friends through all of Jane’s walks of life.
Jane attended SUNY Oswego, SUNY Brockport and got her Masters at Nazareth College. She retired from the Rochester City School District where she was a speech and language therapist for 29 years. She received Educator of the year. She was a member of the RTA and a union rep. Jane was the beloved Director of Camp Smile, a camp for blind and visually impaired children and youth for 45+ years. She received The Masonic DeWitte Clinton Award for exceptional Voluntary Service to the community. She was a youth leader for many years at Bethany Presbyterian Church and volunteered at Cameron Street Ministries. For many years she spent a week working on homes for Habitat for Humanity. She opened her home to the “Walking Boys”, refugees from South Sudan. Jane lived her life fully and to the service of others. She was always there to lend a helping hand and a caring heart.
Jane’s visitation will be held Sunday, February 5th 1PM – 3PM at Vay-Schleich & Meeson 1075 Long Pond Rd. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to daybyde.org or Campsmile.org. For more information and to sign her online guestbook visit www.meesonfamily.com
So sorry to hear about Jane’s passing. She was such a kind soul. I went all through Hammond Central School with her. She always wanted to make the world a better place, and She did! Please accept our sincere condolences at this time. Bruce & Charmaine Tusler.
We will miss seeing Mother Jane each summer at Camp Smile. She had such a kind heart and made everyone she came in contact with feel special and loved. She truly was the "Mother" of so many. She will never be forgotten.
I knew Jane through her online work as a moderator on barred owl nest cams. In this role, Jane (known as “Disco” on the owl cams) shared her expertise and love of owls with people from all around the world. She answered many questions about owls, of course, but she also lent a listening ear to anyone who needed a kind word or a good laugh. I am surely going to miss Jane—her knowledge and her friendship. She was a truly great human being and an inspiration to many.
How Sad, the world is a little less bright with her passing… Mother Jane is the correct term because she was a Mom to many of us. She has taken care of my family several times. Speaking with her and enjoying her company, her smile was wonderful..
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Max, my condolences to you and your family. I know your Aunt Jane was a wonderful person
We are very sorry to hear about Jane. We’ll remember her as a force to be reckoned with. A strong and caring person. During her time at Bethany she taught confirmation classes and I can still remember hearing her “talking” to the kids when it was time to pick them up after service! Only Jane could handle those middle schoolers! I’ll always remember her voice and laugh that she shared freely! Jane is one of the bravest people I know. She was an adventurer that loved life and cared deeply about her family, friends and community We were lucky to know her.
I didn’t know you well, but you were always a cheery presence when ever I saw you. You will be greatly missed.
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Thank you to Mother Jane for all she did for me at Camp Smile. Thank you for making me a CIT and making me feel special. I love you.
Sweet Janie…. I was so sorry to learn of your passing. We were joined at the hip in the 70’s at Nazareth. Heaven has gained an angel. You will never be forgotten! Who can forget your caring ways or your infectious laugh. RIP Janie.
Jane, you were a special gal! Have such fond memories of you when we lived in Rochester. Always baking those applesauce cookies for our little ones. Truly a loving, godly person. Fly high! The Hutton’s
I had the privilege of working as a fellow Speech/Language Pathologist in the Rochester City Schools at #41 School. Jane could do anything at that school! You name it she was there to help! What a loving, caring, talented individual who shared her virtues with everyone she met! I will miss her dearly! May she rest in peace.
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"Well Good Morning Sunshine!" That’s what Jane exclaimed to start every phone call with me. The topic was always Camp Smile and her enthusiasm was wonderfully unbridled even in the face of organizational or logistical challenges. I’m truly grateful for Jane as an Executive Director, as Mother Jane to the CS family, and as a friend to Lions.
Mother Jane has been a source of light and hope in my life for over 20 years. I have attended Camp Smile every year since I was 5 years old and I am going to turn 26 in March. I spend all year waiting for the summer to spend my time with Mother Jane. She loved all of us unconditionally and made use feel like family. I know she is smiling down on me. I will miss her always and look forward to when we meet again. Thank you for always being there for me. May you rest in peace in heaven. Love, Hollyn
Thinking of you especially today, Disco. Hawk, Heron and Owl chatters love you dearly. Albatross dancing will always bring an extra smile to me because of you. Look how many lives you touched!