Jane Foster

Jane (MacMahon) Foster
Jane (MacMahon) Foster, 96, of Portland, (CT), passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, after a challenging year of valiantly fighting a series of illnesses. She was the devoted wife of Myron R. Foster, the love of her life for over 60 years until his passing in 2011. She was the beloved mother to Robert Barry Foster of Hull, MA, loving grandmother to Brittany Bishop Lazar of Concord, NC and Meridith Patterson of Gastonia, NC, great-grandmother to Astrid Lazar and mother-in-law to Michael Clawson of Salisbury, NC. She was pre-deceased by her daughter, Francine Clawson of Salisbury, NC, twin sister, Jean Griskivich of East Meadow, NY and brother, Robert MacMahon of Portland, CT.
Jane was born on August 28, 1928, to Robert and Genevieve MacMahon and was a lifelong resident of Portland. Growing up in the Fairview Heights section of Portland, Jane graduated from the Portland school systems. During her teen years, she learned valuable life lessons working in the local tobacco fields. After high school, she ventured to Boston where she and her twin sister Jean attended the Fisher School of Business and received their degrees in Stenographic studies in 1947. Excerpts from her yearbook noted "her good sense of humor, full of mischief and a 5'1" dynamo bubbling over with personality".
After college, she returned to Portland and was initially employed as a Secretary for Standard and Knapp. During this time, she was introduced to her future husband, Myron, and they were married in 1949. She always considered her biggest life accomplishment was the birth of her two children, Francine and Robert, after which her focus turned to becoming a homemaker.
Jane was blessed throughout her life with many wonderful friends. She enjoyed the family cottage on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire where she was often seen suntanning, swimming, boating, skiing, snowmobiling and antiquing. Jane also enjoyed Cape Cod where she and Myron renovated and rented three cottages for many summers in Dennisport. After selling those, they spent several years restoring their summer home, a 1712 half-cape in South Chatham which they continued to enjoy in their golden years. A true beach lover, she found joy in the sun, sand and waves.
She was an active member of her community and enjoyed volunteering her time to several organizations, including the Portland Historical Society, Middlesex Memorial Hospital and as a dedicated poll worker for the state of Connecticut. She was an avid gardener and long-term member of the Portland Garden Club where she met many of her lifelong friends. As a devout Catholic, she enjoyed many years as a member of the St. Mary's Altar Society.
Jane had numerous passions in life. She loved traveling with her family and friends, most notably to Hawaii where she always enjoyed the tranquility of the ocean and the native people. Her love for antiques brought her to Ogunquit, the backroads of New Hampshire and Vermont and the fields of Brimfield, always looking for a good bargain. She loved the theatre, especially musicals at the Goodspeed Opera House, usually preceded by a great Italian dinner out. She was enthusiastic about her gardens spending long, hot days weeding them to perfection. Lastly, she took immense pride in planning annual Christmas parties at her home for her family and friends to celebrate her favorite holiday.
Jane distinguished herself in many ways through her compassion, creativity, independence, courage, and outgoing personality. Her love extended to many family pets, especially to her late canine companion, Pebbles. She always had a smile on her face and friendly conversations even during her various illnesses.
A special thank you goes out to all the doctors, nurses, aides and therapists at Portland Care and Rehab for their compassion, dedication and loving care provided during Jane's final months, as well as a thank you to all the friends and neighbors who visited.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, May 5th at 11 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, Portland. Burial will be in Swedish Cemetery, Portland. Friends may call at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland, on Monday morning from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jane's name to St. Mary's church in Portland or one of the organizations she supported herself, including the Alzheimer's Association, ASPCA or Connecticut Humane Society.