Jane C. Reif

Jane Chae Reif, formerly of Wellesley, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2021 in Durham, NC at age 99. Born in Pittsburgh, Pen. on Nov. 13, 1921, she was the youngest of 6 children and an independent, inquiring spirit from early on. Her father, Harvey Buchanan Chess II, died when she was 2 and her mother, Blanche Leard Chess, carried on as a single parent. The great Depression diminished their lifestyle, but they made the best of things. Jane attended Hollins College, and then Univ. of Wisconsin. She eventually returned to Pittsburgh to get a BA in Sociology from Carnegie Tech, and then worked as a probation officer. In 1949, Jane married a young scientist Arnold Eugene Reif. They moved to Madison, WI and then Albuquerque, NM. Their three sons Bert, John, and Joseph were born in 1950, 1951 and 1953. The family moved to Wellesley in 1957, and Jane embraced life as a stay-at-home mom. She was sociable, fun-loving and enjoyed the company of her neighbors and friends. Jane had fun exploring the Boston area and greater New England with her family. Following her divorce in 1965, Jane moved to another house in Wellesley with her sons, and cultivated a lovely garden. She worked as a secretary at The New England Home for Little Wanderers. Once her sons had gone to college, she opened her home to a series of roomers, which provided some extra income and kept things lively. Later her sister Nancy and her brother Harvey shared her home. Jane was happiest in the company of others, enjoying lively conversations and had many interesting stories to tell. She took joy in learning new things at Wellesley Senior Center and Wellesley College. She wrote about her genealogy with stories of her early life and those who came before her. One of her greatest joys was being a grandmother to her son Johns two daughters, Katie and Emily, born in 1989 and 1994. She loved and nurtured them, relishing their visits. In 2010, Jane moved to The Falls at Cordingly Dam in Newton, MA. In 2014, following a stroke, she moved to Carolina Reserve in Durham, NC, to be near her son John and his wife Jane. Her family thanks staff at both places for good care of Jane.