Jane Clare Ford

New London - Jane Clare (McDonald) Ford, 96, of New London, died Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, at Greentree Manor in Waterford, surrounded by her loving family.

Jane was born in Lorain, Ohio, Aug. 11, 1917, the daughter of Francis and Mary Agnes (Magner) McDonald. She was the beloved wife of Walter A. Ford, who predeceased her in 2000. Jane and Walter were married 71 years ago in Bronx, N.Y., on Oct. 3, 1942.

Jane attended Yonkers General Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated as a registered nurse in 1940. She worked for many years at New York area hospitals. She left nursing for several years in order to raise her family. Jane and Walter lived in the greater New York City area before moving to Connecticut in the mid 1950s. The family continued to grow, and she and Walter surrounded them with much love and laughter and a strong sense of family. She returned to nursing in the 1970s, where she worked as a nurse supervisor for many years at local area nursing homes in New London County.

Jane was a faithful communicant of St. Joseph Church of New London and was a longtime volunteer for many years in the church rectory. Second only to her love for her faith and family, her greatest happiness was in helping and caring for others. In addition to St. Joseph Church, she volunteered over the years at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, the New London Soup Kitchen, and New London Senior Center. She was also a longtime member of the Local Chapter of AARP where she served on the health committee.

She is survived and sorely missed by three sons, Jerry Ford and his wife, Barbara, of Waterford, Paul Ford and his wife, Polly, of New London, Robert Ford of Groton; three daughters, Mary Agnes Gibson of Mystic, Annemarie Sheehan and her husband, Jim, of New London, Rosemary Feld and her husband, Paul, of Springfield, Mo.; daughter-in-law, Donna Ford of Waterboro, Maine; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased much too soon by her first born son, Walter "Tony" Ford II.; her brother, Bob McDonald (Elsie); sister, Fran Lynch (John).

Special thanks from the family go to Center for Hospice Care and all the staff at Greentree Manor for all the truly loving care and support their mom received.

Her family will receive friends and family from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. The funeral procession will assemble at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the funeral home and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 17 Squire St., New London. Private interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph School, New London, or Center for Hospice Care Southeast Connecticut, (www.hospicesect.org).

Condolence messages may be left on Mrs. Ford's memorial page at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.