Jane Bishop Ashton

Jane Bishop Ashton, 93, passed away peacefully on 3 March 2026. She was a native of Lockport, NY, born to Robert C. and Florence S. Bishop and a graduate of Lockport High. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in nutrition.

Jane began her career as an intern at Kodak in Rochester then as a dietician at Yale University where she met Philip T. Ashton (who preceded her in death in 2017). Phil swept her off her feet and they were married in 1956. Together they raised four children: Debbie (Molloy), Katie (Grice), Bob, and Stuart. She also worked at several area nursing homes as the resident dietician including The Masonic Home, Bradley Home, Curtis Memorial, Elim Park, Coccomo, and Westfield Care.

Central to the way she lived, Jane's faith in Christ as Savior and her desire to serve others led her to volunteer in myriad ways at the First United Methodist Church along with the greater community through Red Cross, Meriden Soup Kitchen, Meriden Board of Education, Meriden/Wallingford Community Foundation (board member), Connecticut Dietetic Association (president), Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.

Jane worked hard yet valued her playtime too. She relished a night of bridge with friends or board games with grandchildren. An avid fan of professional tennis, she played the sport as often as time allowed. She was competitive at the local level including Meriden women's and co-ed tournaments. Ever the cheerleader, encourager and person who saw the "silver lining," she maintained that positive outlook until the end, claiming she wanted a "new body" as her aging one slowly failed her. This may have been her way of looking forward to restoration to full health and vigor in Heaven!

Jane is survived by her four children and their spouses: Debbie and Tom Molloy of Meriden; Katie and Stephen Grice of Georgia; Bob and Susan Ashton of Virginia; and Stuart and Krissi Ashton of New Jersey. Jane also had 10 cherished grandchildren: Ryan and Daniel Molloy, Taylor and Nathan Grice, Ashton Levin, Philip Ashton, Emily Grzybowski, William Ashton, and Nicholas and Stefan Lazaroae. Jane also had five great-grandchildren: Robbie and Aurelia Jane Ashton (Philip and Nicole Ashton); Charles and Jane Grice (Taylor and Mary Pate Grice); and Madeline Jo Grzybowski (Emily and Johnathan Grzybowski).

A memorial service honoring Jane's life will be held on Friday, April 24th at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 159 E. Main St., Meriden, CT followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jane's memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church or the Meriden-Wallingford Community Foundation "Philip and Jane Ashton Fund" (www.mw-cf.org/legacy/funds).