On December 4, 2015, Jane B. Wilde (Jean, to her loving family members and close friends) age 91, passed away in her sleep after a prolonged struggle with dementia.
She was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the daughter of Lucy and Theodore Burghardt. In 1937, her family moved to Montclair where she attended Montclair High School, then Lacordaire Academy from which she graduated in 1941.
In 1943, the family moved to Manhattan where Jean at the time was employed by Vogue magazine as an executive secretary. In May 1946, she left Vogue to marry her former high school sweetheart, a recently returned Army Air Corps veteran.
The couple chose Verona, New Jersey as the place to raise a family that would include three daughters and a son. Jean enjoyed being active hands on, stay at home mom and was an enthusiastic supporter of the children’s many and varied activities as they grew up.
Next to her husband, children, and grandchildren, she loved her pussy cats, over the years providing a safe, comfortable home for some 20 or more adopted furry friends. In 1995, Jean and her husband moved to Williamsburg.
Jean’s own creative talents had surfaced while the children were being raised and continued well into her later retirement years. Left behind to be treasured by family and friends are many colorful landscape paintings and award winning cross-stich creations she produced. Other interests included membership and participation in the activities of the Williamsburg Women’s Club and the Ford’s Colony Craft Club.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Joseph E. Brughardt.
She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Robert W. Wilde, daughters, Janet W. Savage of Williamsburg, Patricia W McNamara of Bath, Pennsylvania, and Wendy Watts of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and a son, Steven R. Wilde of Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
Also surviving are eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Nelsen Funeral Home.
To view the full list of WYDaily obituaries, click here.
