Jane Capers

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Jane C. (Van Cook) Capers, 64, of Pensacola, Fla., formerly of Shirley, died on Monday, April 7, at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Capers was born in New York City on Dec. 10, 1943, the daughter of Arthur and Jane (Daly) Van Cook and resided many years in the Ayer-Shirley area before moving to Florida 15 years ago.

Mrs. Capers was retired from the civil service, where she worked for many years as an administrative secretary at the former Fort Devens Army Base.

She is survived by her husband, Alexander James Capers; a daughter and son-in-law, Chris and Todd Shoemaker of Shirley; a brother, James Van Cook of Woodbridge, Va.; three grandchildren, Molly Shoemaker, Cameron Shoemaker and Griffin Shoemaker, all of Shirley.

CAPERS -- A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 11, at St. Anthony’s Church, 14 Phoenix St., Shirley. Burial will be in the National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. Calling hours are from 5-7 on Thursday at the T.J. Anderson & Son Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, Ayer. Please see andersonfuneral.com for additional information. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 21 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.