Jane Claudette Leighton

Jane Claudette
Leighton, 66
BRUNSWICK -- Jane Claudette Leighton, 66, died on March 4, 2013, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough. She was born in Skowhegan on May 21, 1946, the daughter of Noel and Rose Helene Bolduc. She was educated at Notre Dame deLourdes elementary school, Mount Merici Academy and graduated from Bloomfield Academy in Skowhegan in 1964. She went on to radiology technology school at Augusta General Hospital, graduating in 1967.
She married David Roger Leighton in 1967. He died in 1998. She leaves behind their three sons, Steven and his wife, Wendy, and their children, Sarah and Carly, of Webster, Mass.; John and his wife, Kate, and their children, Jacob and Amelia, of North Attleboro, Mass.; and Gregg and his wife, Lisa, and their children, Allison, Andrew and Jack, of Shrewsbury, Mass. She also leaves behind five siblings, brothers Germain Bolduc of Salisbury, Mass. and Raymond Bolduc and his wife, Peggy, of Auburn, N.H.; as well as sisters Linette Dostie of Waterville, Rita Fortin and her husband, Gerald, of Benton, and Lorainne Richardson of Palmyra. She also leaves behind an army of adoring nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She is also predeceased by brothers Reginald, Guy and Claude Bolduc, and a sister Huguette Sullivan.
In her lifetime, Jane worked in the healthcare field for many years, including at Maine General Hospital in Waterville and Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. She retired from radiology in 2010. Despite retiring from radiology, she continued to operate her tailor shop until January 2013, which she had run out of her house for three decades.
Jane enjoyed spending time camping, hiking, enjoying her children and seven grandchildren, and getting together with her sisters to quilt. The 'M'Tantes' (the Aunts) had been quilting together each week for more than 25 years - mostly quilting and in later years often playing scrabble or dominoes in lieu of sewing.
Jane was a communicant of All Saints Parish in Brunswick. She was also a lector, and a member of the Daughters of Isabella. Eight years ago, Jane started in her parish the 'Sew Blessed Ministry,' which is a group that knits and sews quilts, afghans, wheelchair caddies and clothes for premature babies. Sew Blessed Ministry made items for soldiers, nursing home patients, and newborn infants and anyone else in need. This ministry led to the creation of a local chapter of 'Prayer Shawl Ministry.' In 2012, she organized, with Sew Blessed Ministry, the first Prayer Shawl Retreat in Maine, which was very well attended. Jane's work with the Sew Blessed Ministry was her life's greatest accomplishment.
In addition to her work with Sew Blessed Ministry and the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Jane joined members of her parish who went on a church mission to Jamaica. While there, they toured an orphanage that was totally lacking in basic supplies. Upon her return to Brunswick, Jane enlisted the help of Sew Blessed Ministry to gather sheets and mattresses for the orphanage. Together, they shipped 448 sheets and 200 mattresses to Jamaica. Some years later, Jane participated in another mission trip to Jamaica. This time, she gathered and distributed medical supplies, including 200 toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, and 99 handmade dresses that were made or collected by members of Sew Blessed Ministry.
Visiting hours will be held at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street in Brunswick on March 6, 2013, from 4 to 8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church on 39 Pleasant Street in Brunswick on Thursday, March 7th at 10 a.m.
Condolences to the family may be expressed and a 'Tribute' of her life viewed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to:
Sew Blessed Ministry in care of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, All Saints Parish
132 McKeen Street
Brunswick, ME 04011
Jane Claudette Leighton