Jane (Peters) Layton’s celebration of life

Many people come to Lenox for a visit, summer vacation and/or retirement.

Lenox, this past Saturday, paid tribute to a woman who accomplished all three things, from a visit with her family to summer vacations that went from Memorial Day weekend to the day after Labor Day to establishing her own identity after her husband died and continuing a self-giving life in retirement and ultimately, in death.

Lenox lost a woman who had a crack-jack personality, knew the ins and outs of various groups and people and was connected to the Trinity Church and later with the parish people at St. Helena’s Chapel.

Jane (Peters) Layton, 87, of 35 Yokun Ave., who died May 7 at home, was remembered Saturday during a celebration of life at St. Helena’s Chapel before an estimated 100 people from Berkshire County along with her family to acknowledge her kindness and generosity, and her unmistakable laugh and sense of humor.

In the words of Father Daniel B. Brunton, now our pastor emeritus priest at St. Ann’s Church: “Jane was a delight to meet in person & delighted me with her warm & caring stories.

“I still remember the day that her Oxygen tank fell over & she called it by name (Edward) as if it were her best friend, which I guess ‘he’ was.

“She had a laugh that was contagious and heartwarming as she told story after story.

“I could always count on Jane to fill me in on the little details of a person, whom I may not have known too well, but for whose funeral service I was called upon to officiate as pastor of St. Ann Parish.

“I truly loved to share her presence at the Snack Shop on several occasions.

“Lenox has lost a beautiful woman who really loved her town and the people she knew so well. Jane, I pray that you will truly rest in peace in the arms of the Good Shepherd for in my humble opinion, you were the Good Shepherd to all who had the pleasure of getting to know you in the Green Pastures of Lenox.

“It was one of my pleasures to say that Jane Layton was my friend. Rest in Peace for your good works go forth with you.”

The Rev. Daina Salnitis of St. Helena lead the prayer Mass for Jane and captured her in life and in death, noting her dress of hi-top sneakers, her deep-voice laugh and she never boasted of her contributions.

Her motto: “go find something you like to do…”

Her daughter, Robin Capoor of Cranford, N.J., spoke of her mother: “I was raised as my father’s daughter, when I was married I was the wife of John Elisha Layton, Jr. who died in 1970; moving to Lenox she became Jane Layton, who first lived in Lenox Dale, then on Old Stockbridge Road before moving to Yokun Avenue.

Ms. Capoor traced the fact that her mother was opinionated but had a sense of humor with each person she met. During the early days when she came to Lenox, she would join other children at the old Stockbridge Bowl beach, now owned by Tanglewood, where there was a pavilion.

“It was a place for us,” George “Gige” Darey recounted. “She was two years older than myself,” Mr. Darey noted.

There was a “ride” to the lake daily, but if Jane missed it, she had to walk to the lake from the center of Lenox to Stockbridge Bowl. Her daughter said that it didn’t happen often.

I met Jane in the early ’80s one morning when I was at Cimini’s Market and Reno and I were talking. In walks Jane and at that time, one could smoke in the store. She and Reno would light up. They shared a story and then chuckled.

I said, “Who is that lady?”

That is Jane. I was totally caught up with her graciousness, humor and her knowledge about the people of Lenox. Later in the day, I met her at the post office for some more conversation.

Over the years, we would meet by chance. We would discuss Parsons College as she knew a Paul McIsaac of Stone Harbor, who went there.

Later when I met her, she had an oxygen tank with her. I said, “Who is your friend?” She replied: “Edward.”

I said, “What do you do if he misbehaves?” Jane: “I leave him home!”

I said, “Does he misbehave often?” Jane: “No, if he wants to come for a walk!”

And this was Jane. Always upbeat with a smile.

Periods of time would pass and later, I found her at cardiac rehab at Berkshire Medical Center working out. Come to find out, she had more than 1,050 visits. If she went five days a week, that would total over four straight years before she was confined to her home.

Jane made an impression on the staff. They were represented at the service.

As her daughter noted, Jane grew up in Ardmore, Penn., and later moved to Stone Harbor, N.J., before moving to Lenox.

“My mother had the birth of Pennsylvania, the wealth of Stone harbor and the good fortune of Lenox,” her daughter said. “She was witty, full of life, but she always had a voice of Philadelphia.”

If one closed their eyes, they could hear Jane through her daughter’s voice.

For now, we say goodbye with cherished memories of Jane (Peters) Layton.

She was a 1943 graduate of the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Penn., and was a member of the Class of 1945 at Colby-Sawyer College in Sunapee, N.H. She worked for several years at a childcare center in Cape May Court House, N.J., and, in later years, volunteered at the Senior Lunch Program at the Lenox Community Center.

Besides her daughter, she leaves another daughter, Margaret of Lenox; a son, Thomas of Deep River, Conn.; a brother, Frederick Yarnell Peters of Gladwyne, Penn.; a niece and nephew; and her caregivers, Patty Verdi, Sharon Gordon and Patricia Pixley.

She was predeceased by her son, John E. Layton III, and by her sister, Martha Skillings. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on May 16, 2013. Filed under Opinion,View from the Tower. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry