It is with heavy sadness that we announce the passing of Jayne after a long battle with cancer.
Jayne was born in Pottsville, PA in 1959 to John (Jack) Irvin and Jean Doyle Irvin. She grew up in West Chester, a Philadelphia suburb, before her family moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil. While there, she attended Maria Imaculata School, where she made life long friendships and developed a love for the beaches of the Caribbean and Mexico. Jayne attended Upsala College for a year and then decided to pursue her passion for cooking, so she joined her parents who had settled in Crofton, MD, and attended the Culinary Institute of Baltimore.
While going to CIB, she met her future husband Kenny at the Sly Horse Tavern. Jayne graduated second in her class, and in 1987 became the sous chef at the Cafe Brighton in the Harbor Court Hotel, Baltimore's first 5 star hotel. Jayne later returned to the Sly Horse Tavern as the chef before deciding to open her own restaurant. Jayne and Kenny bought Henninger's in June 1989 and operated it for 35 years before closing in July 2021. No one worked harder in the kitchen than Jayne. Through the years they collected an amazing array of customers and employees who became part of the family.
Jayne especially loved the Christmas season, and she wanted to make sure everyone received a gift. With her parents' immense help, the restaurant was always particularly beautifully decorated during the holidays. Jayne brought so much joy to her parents, who never missed a Saturday night at Henniger's. Almost to the end of her life, Jayne kept her mother's refrigerator stocked.
Jayne was preceded in death by her father who passed away in 2014. She is survived by her husband Kenny, mother Jean and her dog Willy, an aunt, cousins, in-laws and tons of great friends. Jayne passed away 4 days shy of her 35 wedding anniversary.
Donations in Jayne's name may be sent to Helping Up Mission, P.O. Box 17372
Baltimore, MD 21298, where Jayne volunteered cooking for a group of 40 unhoused men.
A visitation will take place on Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 3:00-5:00pm at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Highway,
Bowie, MD 20715.
A celebration of Jayne's life will be held in Baltimore at a later date.
Published by Baltimore Sun on Nov. 9, 2025.