E. Jane McNiff

E. Jane McNiff, of Duxbury, MA., passed away on June 21st surrounded by her loving family. Jane was 89 years old.
Jane was the loving wife of Philip McNiff to whom she was married for 65 happy years. Jane became the matriarch of an ever-expanding family that includes her daughter Sandra Hatch of Wareham MA, son Christopher McNiff of Kingston MA and his wife Dawn, and daughter Tracy Staples of Amherst MA and her husband Jimmy. Jane was predeceased by her youngest son, the late P.K. McNiff.
Jane was the cherished sister of Jack Malloch of Colorado Springs, the grandmother of 13 and great grandmother of 13. Jane was also the foster mother of the late Barbara Opell of Kingston MA.
Jane lived in Fall River during her childhood and upon graduating from Durfee High School she moved to Boston where she lived with friends and worked for Liberty Mutual. One of her coworkers there, Mary Faith O'Neill, would go on to become her dearest lifelong friend.
It was during this time in Boston that she met and married the love of her life Philip. The newlywed couple relocated to Duxbury in 1959 where they lived and raised a family for 66 years.
While in Duxbury, Jane, a big believer in the power of voting, was a poll worker for 18 years before becoming an election warden for 12 years. She also spent several years in the appointed position of Assistant Town Clerk for the Town of Duxbury. There was a time when, because of these two positions, that she knew half the people in the town on a first name basis, and she relished all the social interaction that ensued.
While spending time with friends and family was Jane's greatest passion, a close second was her passion for singing. Whether it was multiple leading roles in musicals with the Duxbury based community theatre group The Bay Players or her many years spent singing professionally at various venues in Duxbury and Falmouth - Jane loved it all. She was especially thrilled when a crowd would respond to her enthusiasm and sing along with her.
Jane enjoyed travel, but it was always more about the who than the where. She loved meeting new people and would routinely create friends for life from a chance encounter. She had cards and notes for every occasion and made it look effortless to keep in constant touch with her ever-expanding family and circle of friends.
It was this special combination of social grace and friendly personality that led her and Phil, in their late 70's, to cultivate a group of new friends that met at the same time and place every year in Ptown for a week of fun and revelry. And while they may have been the oldest couple in the group, it never seemed that way as they were always young at heart.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, June 26th from 4-7:00 at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St. (route 106) in Kingston, MA. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am Friday, June 27 at Holy Family Church in Duxbury.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to The Hannah B. G. Shaw Nursing Home 299 Wareham St. Middleborough, MA. 02346 Jane's family will be forever grateful for the wonderful care they provided over the past year.