It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter to share the sad news that our beloved Jane Hawkins succumbed to her recent illness this past Friday, December 20, 2019. Jane left us peacefully, retaining her characteristic optimism and sense of humor until the very end.
I also write with a heart full of love and gratitude for the many gifts that Jane gave us during her ninety years of life and for providing us with such a perfect example of a life well lived.
I’d like to share with you a copy of my recent remarks about Jane from this year’s holiday parties, which were dedicated to Jane, and a copy of Jane’s obituary.
In this season of love, the entire Hudock Capital family celebrates our love for Jane and the love she returned to us. Please join us extending our heartfelt sympathies to Jane’s family.
Warmest regards,
Barbara B. Hudock CIMA®, CPM®
Chief Executive Officer
Founding Partner
Michael J. Hudock, Jr., CPM®
President and Founding Partner
Wealth Consultant
P.S. If you would like a laminated card with Jane’s quote on it, we would love to share. Please contact our office and we will mail one out to you.
Jane’s Dedication, December 2019
As we gather to celebrate the season in the way we always do as a firm—together with our trusted friends—it’s clear that today’s gathering is missing one very important person—Jane Hawkins. Since Jane can’t be here in person with us—for the first time since we began holding these events—I’d like to ask you to join me in doing something special–dedicating today’s Holiday Party, and what it stands for, to Jane.
How do you begin to talk about someone like Jane. It’s impossible to distill her essence into words. Jane is a force—in her own, quiet way, a force. One that doesn’t demand to be noticed, but cannot be missed. Someone who never asks for the limelight, but whose absence is leaves an unimaginably empty space. She’s the glue that holds us together. She’s the effervescent spirit of kindness and love and joy that fills every corner of every room she enters. She’s one of those rare people who can make your day with a simple hello, a smile or one of her trademark hugs. If you know Jane, you know without any doubt that she’s a true friend. In every sense of the word.
I met my friend Jane Hawkins on June 2, 1975; I had no idea then how my life was going to unfold… or how important my new friend was going to be for the next 45 years. But a day does not go by without me reflecting on just how grateful I am for that friend. To so many of us in this room, Jane has been a friend, a colleague, a member of our family. And now, that brave friend and family member is approaching her final days with the same sense of grace and dignity and humor and love as she’s approached every day of her life.
Jane is at the Gatehouse hospice now. As I was sitting with her the other day, she looked at me and said, “Barbara, how am I going to tell my clients goodbye.” So, I told her to give me her most favorite quote and I would make sure we got that quote on a memento to all of her clients. A few weeks ago, she gave me a piece of paper with a quote on it and told me to keep it. She told me to pull that out now… so I did. Here’s what it said:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming —WOW—. What a Ride!”
I can’t even begin to express my depth of love, gratitude, admiration, trust, and friendship for Jane. I know many of you feel the same way. Jane has led a very blessed life… she had a wonderful husband of 60+years, two children who adore and worship her, and a wonderful grandson who is the light of her life. She worked close to a full-time job until she was over 90. In her entire 90+ years, she only had 3 visits to the hospital… two for having babies and one was two years ago when they discovered cancer.
When her friends would ask her when she was going to retire, her answer was, “I’m already retired. Now I just do what I want to do, when I want to do it, with the people I want to do it with.” We at Hudock Capital have benefited from that wish and have been blessed with her presence.
Jane has always been there to reassure us, to love us, to make us laugh and smile… and sometimes just to listen to us. There is no greater friend than our Jane.
Jane has not only been our Coordinator of First and Lasting Impressions—the most perfect job title of anyone in the world, she’s been my precious friend and confidante. Many years ago, I found a tea towel with the inscription, “You’ll always be my best friend; you know too much.” I bought it and gave it to her – she had it framed and put it on her wall… and reminded me of that regularly over the years.
Jane has laughed with us, cried with us, shared great successes… and disappointments with us. I am eternally grateful that we’ve all been able to share our lives together in this way. She is the Grammy Jane to all of the many children in our office.
When I think of Jane and her special kind of friendship, and just how much I’m going to — how much we’re ALL going to — miss Jane and her presence in our lives, I’m reminded of a quote that’s used in the film “The Other Side of the Mountain”— the quote is this: “How lucky I am to have known someone and something that saying goodbye to is so damned awful.”
Saying goodbye IS going to be awful. On so many levels Yet, we’re all so incredibly lucky to have been blessed to know the incredible human being that is Jane Hawkins. To have been able to share this brief time we all have in this world with Jane. And to know that our lives—and the lives of so many others—have been made all the better because of Jane.
It’s in the spirit of all those blessings, together with the blessings of this special season, that we dedicate this year’s holiday party to Jane. And as the blessings of this special season unfold, I hope that you’ll find a quiet moment of reflection, to lift up our special friend Jane and be grateful for all that she is. I know that’s what I’m going to do.
Jane knows we are dedicating this to her today. As we do so, she certainly wants to no tears. She wants us to celebrate. To celebrate life with all of the joy in our hearts. And, in my heart, celebrating Jane IS celebrating life. So today, more than anything, let’s celebrate life and Jane and simply be grateful. Grateful for our Jane.
Jane Hawkins Obituary, December 2019
Jane Hawkins (CALAMITY JANE) passed away after a brief illness in Williamsport, PA, on Dec. 20, 2019. She was born on Feb. 1, 1929 in South Williamsport, P, to Edna Hall and Donald Mull. She was a graduate of South Williamsport Area High School, Class of 1946. In 1954, Jane moved to Las Vegas, Nev., where she met the love of her life, Jack D. Hawkins Sr., who preceded her in death in February of 2014. Jane and Jack were married for 60 years.
Jane worked as a receptionist at Merrill Lynch for 28 years, retired, then began a long and lasting career as THE COORDINATOR OF FIRST AND LASTING IMPRESSIONS with Barbara Hudock, at Hudock Capital Group in Williamsport. Jane worked nearly full time with her favorite team until mid-November 2019 at age 90. She was revered by many for her compassion, kindness, empathy, sense of humor, and her positive spirit. She was a mentor, role-model and inspiration for those who knew and cherished her. Jane exuded love and touched many lives during her journey.
Jane enjoyed watching the news and passionately discussing politics. She was an AVID reader, enjoyed traveling, and loved to watch old westerns and film noir. She also enjoyed watching ANYTHING with her favorite actor, Tom Selleck. Jane was named one of several of the YWCA’s Wise Women of the Year.
She served on the Board of Advisors of the local Chapter of CASA for several years. She was a literacy volunteer and served on the Literacy Board of Advisors at the James V. Brown Library. She was also a proud member of the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, Calif.
Most of all, however, Jane loved her children and her grandson. She is survived by her son, Jack Hawkins Jr. (Patty), of Jersey Shore; her daughter, Jahna Hawkins, of Palm Springs, Calif.; her grandson, Corey (Crystal, Annabelle, Kameron), of Muncy; and three sisters and two brothers, Betty Tawney, Dolly Kaiser, Donna Lentz, Donald Mull Jr., and Charles Mull. A brother, (James Mull), and a sister, (JoAnn) preceded her in her death. Jane also adored her Granddog, Parker, and her Grandkitty, Ella.
In following Jane’s wishes, there will be no services. Arrangements have been entrusted to Charles M. Noll Funeral Home, South Williamsport. In lieu of flowers, Jane requested that donations be sent to South Williamsport Police Department, 331 W. Southern Ave., South Williamsport, PA 17702; or to South Williamsport Fire Department, 573 Hastings St., South Williamsport, PA 17702.