WILMINGTON — Jane Stuart Ide Hutchins passed away being celebrated and hugged on by her four children and other dear family members on February 15, 2025 after a remarkably long and colorful journey with dementia. Jane was 91.
Going before her were the love of her life and husband of 50+ years, Jack Hutchins in 2014 and grandson-in-law, Isaac Owens in 2022.
She is survived by her four children, whom she adored, John (Kathryn) of Morristown, TN, Jane (Matthew) of Wilmington, NC, the self-proclaimed favorite, James (Shelley) of Silver Spring, MD, Jeff (Severine) of Southern Pines, NC, and ten grandchildren, Annie, Jackson, Maggie, Lily (Gray), Chet, August, Mills, Felix, Bryn, and Harry; two great-grandchildren Knox and Kona, plus one more whose ETA is sometime this summer.
Jane was born in Rochester, NY, a graduate of New York State Teachers’ College at Albany, New York (SUNY). She received a B.S. in Commerce and taught Business and Accounting in Clifton Springs, NY. She married Jack in 1958, lived in Massachusetts and New Jersey early in their marriage, then for 26 years in Corning/Painted Post, NY area, and Cary/Hickory, NC for 30 years. Finally, in Wilmington, NC, her daughter and son-in-law honored her beautifully as she wrapped up her amazing journey of leaving this world better than she found it.
Jane lost her father when she was very young; her mother raised her and three sisters. Those Ide girls were survivors, but it wasn’t an easy road. The struggles of Jane’s childhood remained with her, perpetually inspiring her to serve children individually and collectively and to facilitate higher learning for all. Some of the highlights of Jane’s focus on children include:
- Tutored a non-speaking elementary school student, successfully getting him to speak and back in his classroom
- Served as a Sunday school teacher
- Received the Jenkins Award for teaching elementary students keyboarding during their lunch hour
- Created and raised funds for both the Beta Zeta and the Class of ’56 scholarships, both of which endow teaching scholarships at SUNY Albany
- Created a scholarship for high school students pursuing teaching in memory of Dottie Osborn, a teacher and dear confidant and friend in Painted Post
- And her grandkids well recall the annual holiday packing of a huge box of toys and clothes for her home church in Rochester to be given to children in need.
Jane never forgot her challenging childhood; if she could ease one child’s journey with a warm coat, a kind word, beanie baby, or a scholarship that would break a cycle, she worked hard to provide it.
Politically active and progressively minded, Jane was a YMCA board member and co-chairman of a successful fundraising drive repurposing the local Corning Armory into a start of the art YMCA, served as PTA president, was honored with a PTA life membership. As the campaign manager of two successful Corning school board candidates, Jane’s diligence and vision assured the district would be fiscally sound so it could do the good it was meant to do for the students, their families and teachers.
Alongside the many gifts (and delicious meals) she bestowed on her kids was music. Jane was a Suzuki Mom who organized the first Suzuki workshops in Corning. In her later years she taught herself (with enthusiastic support and love from James and Jane) to play the violin using the Suzuki method. Jane was a key leader for the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and high school band; her fundraising and chaperoning efforts led to once in a lifetime experiences such as marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. And, oh how that girl loved to dance, especially to Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York”. She and her husband provided gorgeous flower arrangements as members of their Hickory Dance Club for years.
Once all the kids had left the house, Jane was offered to teach once again in the computer lab at CVCC. She instead joined her husband in a start-up tech company in the Research Triangle Park. She took the lead on payroll and human resources, a perfect fit for the incredibly detailed, fiercely just, and protective human that she was. Jane retired in 1998 but consulted for the company until 2001.
If “the favorite” were ever to acquiesce to sharing that position, the family cats over the years would rank pretty high: Julia Catherine, HR, Thorntonette, Quark, Scout and Rascal (which was actually a raccoon). To say she spoiled them would be an understatement. Many have said if there is such a thing as reincarnation, they would like to come back as one of Jane’s cats.
The family would like to share their deepest gratitude to the caring people at the Trinity Grove who were amazing partners to Jane and her children by faithfully caring for her (and so many others) during this final stage of her amazing life.
Jane’s heartbeat was one of compassion and generosity. She gave her time, talent, and treasures to those in need to assure their paths were less rocky while fulfilling her family roles with unending love and grace.
A service celebrating her life will be held on April 12 at 11 am at the Community Congregational Church, 141 N. Bennett St. in Southern Pines, NC. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to one of the scholarships below.
- Class of 1956 Scholarship at the University at Albany: Checks may be made payable to The UAlbany Foundation and mailed to PO Box 761, Albany, NY 12201 and note your gift to the Class of 1956 Scholarship in memory of Jane.
- Dorothy S. Osborn Scholarship: Checks may be made out to the Dorothy S. Osborn Scholarship and mailed to Corning Painted Post School District, 165 Charles Street, Painted Post, NY 14870 and note your gift is in memory of Jane Hutchins.
