Monette Elaine Jana

Monette Elaine Toussaint Jana

Monette Elaine Toussaint Jana, 103 years young, passed away on Monday, November 29, 2010, at The Colonnades, residence where she has resided since 2004.

Prior to her move to Charlottesville in 1997, she lived independently in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was an enthusiastic Green Bay Packers and University of Wisconsin Badgers fan. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Monette was born on August 24, 1907, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to Madison at a young age. She graduated from East High School in 1925. She will always be remembered for her very social personality, her handy crochet work, and her delicious baked goods which she shared with her family and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Abraham and Emma Toussaint; a brother, Ray; a daughter, Joyce Deily; and her favorite canine companions, Gigi and Bessie.

Survivors include her son-in-law, Gerard Deily of Charlottesville, Virginia; and her four grandchildren, Barbara, Robert and Mary Ellen, Katherine, and Charles and Deborah; as well as six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her beloved "family across the street" in Madison, Ann Marie and Jim Zagzebski, and their children, Kathy and Lynn, as well as her god-daughter, Shirley Storkson. Her loved ones are forever grateful to the wonderful staff at The Colonnades and Branchlands for their compassionate care of Monette.

A memorial service to celebrate Monette's life will be held at The Colonnades, 2600 Barracks Road, Charlottesville, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2010.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to a charity of your choice as Monette gave generously to many charities.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.