Obituary of Jane M. Martowicz

Jane Martowicz, age 81, of Cortland, NY passed away on August 31, 2022. Jane was born on January 8th, 1941 in New Brunswick, New Jersey to James and Margaret. Raised on a small chicken farm with her younger brother, Jimmy, Jane’s ability to dive headfirst into the joys of life was discovered early. On the farm, Jane could be seen identifying and cultivating plants, reading books, repairing equipment, crafting decorations, sewing clothes, and finding ways to make new, fast friends. Her thirst for knowledge fueled her waking moments and refined the inquisitive nature that was at the core of everything she did. As a child, Jane spent hours by the water, catching and shucking crabs at her relative’s home by the Chesapeake Bay. It was during these times that she learned how to cook delicious seafood, including her favorite food - lobster. This was a skill that would delight many friends and loved ones who had the pleasure of eating alongside her. Jane’s creativity blossomed as she grew. She developed an eye for fashion, learning how to style hair, mix and match wonderful clothing choices, and nurtured an infectious excitement for shopping for the best deals. Her love of words and stories, of math and measurements, of friendship and fun made her time at school a delight. She graduated near the top of her class. Soon after, she met Paul while working for Revlon. Paul would ship the mountains of lipstick that she would pack, and they would find new ways to make each other laugh. They fell quickly and deeply in love. Paul and Jane were married on November 6, 1960 and moved to a small home in Kendall Park, New Jersey. Their first child, Sharon, was born a year later in 1961 and was followed soon after by Karen and Lauren. Jane loved being “Mom” and wove her strong will, ferocious spirit, and electric wit into her daughters. She spent long hours working behind counters and desks to become the manager of every office where she worked. But when her job was done, Jane’s mind turned to finding ways of making her family happy. She loved to plan family trips to the shore, attend her daughters’ after-school activities, take elaborate shopping trips to the mall, and adventure into amusement parks and onto rollercoasters. And she loved to spend time with Paul, dancing, singing, and laughing often. Jane loved sports of all kinds. She could be seen playing softball, volleyball, and bowling. But when she couldn’t take part, she loved to watch anything she could and was a loyal fan of the New York Yankees, Syracuse Orangemen, and the Buffalo Bills. In 1989, after Sharon had her son, Jane moved the family to a hillside home in Cortland, NY. On 5 acres of land, she planted gardens and designed landscapes that have bloomed and thrived unfettered for over three decades. Jane filled the family’s three-story colonial with handmade crafts, colorful curtains, and memories of love and excitement. When her grandson learned to talk, Jane became “Mom Mom” and what she called the happiest moments of her life began. She had 5 grandchildren who she loved dearly: Paul, Rachel, JC, Jaclyn, and Jake. She called them her heart and would find every opportunity to talk about them to whoever would listen. As her family moved away and she grew older, Jane stayed current on technology to be close. She discovered video games late in life and, no matter what her age, could be seen playing different kinds alongside each of her grandchildren - all of them wearing a smile. Adept with a computer and phone, she would often find a way to make everyone feel loved through a social media post, email, or a simple text. And even when she couldn’t be with them in person, Jane would find a way to Facetime just to see the people she loved. It was always important to Jane to be part of the moments when family came together. When those instances would arise, she would somehow find the perfect outfit for the occasion, decorate the home in a simple but immersive way, and was often the driving force behind traditions and routines that made the times spent together happy and welcoming. Jane was predeceased by her parents James Krovath and Margaret Guise, and preceded in death by her husband Paul Martowicz and her brother Jimmy Krovath. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon (Mark) Beverly, Karen (James) Barbour, and Lauren (Edward) Nast. Jane is also survived by her five grandchildren, Paul (Rachel) Beverly, Rachel Beverly, James Charles Barbour, Jaclyn Nast, and Jake Nast. In 2020, she became a “G.G.” to her namesake, great granddaughter Mabel Jane Beverly. Jane leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and happiness that touches so many lives. Her beautiful life will be celebrated and remembered among her gardens this fall at her hillside home in Cortland, NY. Per Jane’s wishes there will be a private service at the family’s convenience. Donations to Somatic Experiencing International traumahealing.org/give or Compassion & Choices https://join.compassionandchoices.org/a/donate-today would be appreciated.