Jane Medlicott Mulcahy

SANDWICH - Jane Medlicott Mulcahy, 85, died on Monday, July 9, 2007, at the Decatur House in Sandwich.

Jane was born in Springfield, Mass., on July 15, 1921, to Robert Lane Medlicott and Jennie Welch Medlicott. She attended Longmeadow schools, graduated from Springfield Classical High School and earned a degree in Early Childhood Education from the Eliot Pearson School of Tufts University.

Jane married her high school sweetheart, Joseph Mulcahy, in 1944. They moved to East Longmeadow in 1952, where she founded the Hilltop Preschool, which she operated for more than two decades. She was also a founder of the East Longmeadow Cooperative Kindergarten.

Jane was the granddaughter of John Wheeler Harding, who served as Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Longmeadow for a half century. Jane was a member and Deaconess of the church. She was instrumental in the establishment of many early childhood programs in the greater Springfield area. She was an active and enthusiastic volunteer and served on the boards of the Springfield Day Nursery and the South End Community Center.

For the past six years, Jane has lived at the Decatur House in Sandwich. She enjoyed the frequent visits of family members who lived nearby, and particularly enjoyed spending time with her great-granddaughters.

In August of 1998, her husband, Joseph, preceded her in death. Survivors include her daughter, Martha Mulcahy, and son-in-law, Ray Farrell, of Sandwich; son, Peter and daughter-in-law Maureen Mulcahy of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; four grandsons, Benjamin Clarkin and his wife, Rachel; Joshua Clarkin and his wife, Kristen; and Andrew and William Mulcahy. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorial donations in her memory may be made to Dana Farber's Jimmy Fund Tribute Program, 1 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02146-9795.