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JANET W. BONE

1930 - 2018

BORN

1930

DIED

2018

About

Roosevelt University

JANET BONE Obituary

Janet W. Bone, born December 19, 1930, in Coal Township, PA, died January 28, 2018, in Winter Park, FL. Jan Bone, 87, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her Florida residence in the early morning hours on January 28, 2018. She will be forever remembered and loved by her four sons: Jonathan, Christopher, Robert, and Daniel, their wives, and her grandchildren: Emily, Jennifer, Jeffrey, and David. A longtime resident of the northwest suburbs, first Arlington Heights and then Palatine, Jan also traveled extensively with her late husband, Dave. She enjoyed the countryside and made friends across Europe, Russia, Japan, Hawaii, England and anywhere in between. From North Morris Drive in Palatine to the Lithuanian city where she established a writing scholarship for learners of English, no one was a stranger to her. Jan also was a talented musician. Wherever she was, she loved gathering people of all ages around the piano for sing-alongs. In a pioneering career centered around writing that began in 1947, Jan wrote thousands of articles for Chicago-area newspapers and numerous books. Trained in English composition, she loved to learn, and to instill that love in others, receiving her second Masters degree (an MBA) at age 75 so as to make her a better teacher of business writing. Serving for a time on the Harper College Board of Trustees, she also was a well-liked adjunct professor of English for Roosevelt University into her 80's. Jan Bone made a difference in the lives of those she encountered. She strove to better the lives of friends and neighbors, as well as many others from around the country and the globe. In Jan's own words: "With the advent of the Internet, the neighborhood is now the world."

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Published by Daily Herald on Mar. 4, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for JANET BONE

Sponsored by Daily Herald.

14 Entries

Barbara Hedstrom

May 13, 2021

I was a student at Harper when I first learned to love writing and Jan was an inspiration to the whole class. She was funny, kind and very good as an instructor. She wrote for the National Enquirer then and we were all agog because we knew a "real author" who really was published. So sorry to see she has departed.

Jeanette Ertel

February 26, 2021

Janet had once lived in the same town as my husband. On that basis, she and I invented a cousinship which began when the Bone family lived in Palatine and my family lived in Chicago. She would drive to visit the city with her four boys, the youngest still a toddler. These visits continued for many years during which I had chance to be impressed by her many adventures and accomplishments. She had an awesome power of Being. And she expressed joyfulness that helped to lift people up. Her family was the center from which she drew strength to fulfill many of her wishes to accomplish something worth while. She did that through her church and in her teaching. She also wrote a great deal, including textbooks and newspaper articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a critical book about a Chicago politician.
She took courses in just about every subject available. She took her own adult education as seriously as earning her degree at Cornell. My favorite memory of her was standing next to her with recorder instrument in hand, ready to follow her energetic lead through many songs that she would choose from a recorder/piano duet book.. She took delight, I remember, at those times when she was asked to play piano in some local restaurant. Music and teaching were deep in her heart. Her enthusiasm for either never waned. Her gifts to many never waned. I am grateful to have known her; forgetting is impossible.

April 17, 2018

April 16,2018

Jonathan, Chris, Dan and Robert, I am grateful to have known your mom for more than forty years. I have been blessed to know many gifted women and your mom was one of those I called my powerful women friends. I remember her devotion to teaching and writing; her busy hands at the Piano or at knitting gifts for infants and others; her devotion to the church where she became deacon; her maternal pride in your accomplshments and the developing skills of her grandchildren. She boasted about you all and told me in person and through emails when we were distanced what was going on with you all. It is not news to you that she was a compassionate person, lively and capable of taking charge of getting things done. In her presence I felt life became more vibrant. She and I had many happy moments playing duets. She on piano and me on the recorder. We were still in touch during her stay at the Mayflower where she found new friends and a new enjoyment of using colored pencils. She brought her musical talent to her companions there and I am sure she lifted many hearts in song. I will miss having her emails to read and occasionally having a chat on the phone. I still can hear her voice. May her spirit continue to liven your lives. [email protected]

Shar Jaegers

March 11, 2018

Rest In Peace dear Jan. You will be missed. I loved hearing about your travels. You are a true inspiration. Deepest sympathy to the family.

Dr Butterly

March 8, 2018

Dan and family
So sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom. Both your Mom and Dad were wonderful people.
Health and happiness to your families.
Dr. Butterly

Marie Denise Cormier

March 8, 2018

Jane has been an inspirational woman and her "light" will stay
with me forever.
My condolences to family.

Mary Gabioud

March 5, 2018

Her incredible interest in her students, technology, well simply everything around her always amazed me. Her energy, her genuine good will, well there will never be another like her, and for that the world is a much sadder place. Rest gently, my friend.

March 5, 2018

Jan was not only the best professor that I ever had, but also the most inspiring person I have come across. She had more drive, intelligence and kindness than any one at a much, much younger age. -----Linn Bourgeau

George Dorner

March 5, 2018

I'll remember Jan for her support of Harper College as a Board Member and volunteer in the early days. I met her and one sone in a course called Computers for the Family in about 1973.

Debra Berg

March 5, 2018

There are certain people that come across our paths in our lifetime and have a powerful impact on our lives. I had the good fortune to have Jan be one of those special people. My condolences to your family.

Linda Racki

March 4, 2018

17 years ago I took my first class towards my masters degree and Janet was my teacher at Roosevelt. After 4 weeks I realized with a full time job and a very young son I couldn't continue. She would not let me give up. We talked about assignments over the phone and she met me at Panera often to go over my work. I ended up finishing the class thanks to her going way above and beyond. I will never forget her and still tell that story to this day. She was an amazing woman.

Phil Troyer

March 4, 2018

I was and am grateful for the energy Jan spent toward Harper College. She made our world a better place.

Philip J Troyer Professor Emeritus Harper College

Susan Kearns

March 4, 2018

Such a loving person, she welcomed my family into her heart, seamlessly, and without reservation. We are all diminished by her loss. I hope, in time, you find peace.

Sonali Pradhan

March 4, 2018

Sorry to hear about your mother. My prayers to your family & you.

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