Jane Ellen Osborn's Obituary
Jane Osborn Remembered. An Obituary.
Jane Osborn was born Jane Ellen Sunter on August 27, 1968, in Pasadena, California. The youngest of three sisters, her early years were marked by great affection and care from a loving family including much time at the beach and regular trips to Disneyland. In 1980, her family moved to the rural town of Palo Cedro just outside Redding in Northern California – a big adjustment in the middle of 6th grade!
During her teenage years, Jane’s love for visual art and musical theatre blossomed and never faded as all who knew her can attest. After high school she spent a year in England studying and living on a dairy farm near the border of Wales. Upon her return to the U.S., she attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, earning a degree in art history. Jane was particularly fond of the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. Believing that computers and graphic art would merge, she taught herself to draw on the computer leading to a career as a graphic artist during the period when this work migrated to computers.
While in Seattle Jane fell in love with swing dancing, performing as part of a dance troupe, and teaching dance classes. Through dancing she met the love of her life. Stephen and Jane were married on May 23, 1998, and danced together for the rest of their days. In 2004, the family moved to Sacramento, California, to be near family for the birth of their son Owen, born on Jane’s birthday – some gift! In 2008, Oliver joined the family and the happy group moved into a new home in Carmichael, California.
Jane cherished being a stay-at-home mom from the very beginning, caring for her boys the way she was blessed by her mother, June. As the boys grew, she poured her heart into volunteering at their school, teaching art lessons, and editing the yearbook. As a master organizer and planner, Jane was always mapping out the next holiday or celebration. She loved expressing her love through gifts, putting a great deal of thought to every item or experience. Spending time with family and friends, simply enjoying life, filled the years.
In June of 2017 Jane was diagnosed with cancer, beginning a nearly five-year journey that no one wants to travel. Along this dark and terrible path, she discovered that the idea of “the good death” is sadly missing from our culture. The good death recognizes the faithfulness of God in Christ throughout one’s life and prepares a person, and those around them, for the life that comes after death. Jane embraced the good death even as she struggled to reconcile her circumstances. She eventually came to peace with God, trusting that He would care both for her loved ones who would remain and for her as she left one life to enter into the next life with Jesus. This profound experience, and the hope that comes through trusting Jesus to bring home those who trust in Him, is a lesson she deeply wanted to share with others.
Jane died peacefully at home held by friends and loved ones. She will be forever loved by her immediate family still on earth including her husband of 23 years, Stephen; her sons, Owen and Oliver; and her two sisters, Lorie Hokema, who lives with her husband Michael and their children Tristan and daughter Emily, and Julie Sunter.
What’s your fondest memory of Jane?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jane?
Share a story where Jane's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jane you’ll never forget.
How did Jane make you smile?