Jane Bentz Atesoglu

POTSDAM - Jane Elizabeth Bentz Atesoglu, age 80, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2025 in Venice, FL. She grew up in Morrisville, PA and Surf City, Long Beach Island, NJ, living the majority of her adult life in Potsdam, NY until her retirement when she spent the colder months of the year in Venice. Jane had a special presence and brought a sense of peace to those around her; she was truly loved by all. She had a quiet kindness that people were drawn to, and she was happiest spending time surrounded by family.
As a child, Jane lived in Morrisville and graduated from Bishop Egan High School. Her summers were spent in Surf City with her family, where she recalled happy memories of scooping ice cream at the Ship's Wheel, sailing with her friends, and swimming in the ocean. She earned her undergraduate degree from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, and her Master's in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh. In college, Jane explored Europe on a backpacking adventure. For two months she navigated all over Europe, including London, Mainland Europe, Greece, and Croatia.
Upon graduating, Jane took a job as a teacher in Pittsburgh, PA. While in Pittsburgh, she met her husband, Sonmez. The couple moved to Turkey and during this time Jane taught English at a university in Ankara. When Sonmez was offered a job at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C, the family moved back to the United States and ultimately settled in Potsdam. Jane was a very hands-on stay at home mother, sharing her love of reading, sewing, baking, and gardening with her children. As the children got older, she decided to pursue her dream of studying medicine and became a Registered Nurse (RN). Jane then worked as a RN and in administration at MedLink of Northern NY until her retirement.
Jane was always excited to try new things and learn, whether it was music, travel, or exploring new activities. The sounds of Jane's piano playing echoed throughout the house and after retirement, Jane took up clarinet and played with the Crane School of Music adult band. While Sonmez was on a yearlong sabbatical leave from Clarkson University in the 1980s, the family lived in Germany, where Jane organized many trips across Europe. Years later, Jane and Sonmez spent a sabbatical in San Diego, where she continued to seek out new experiences. In her thirties, she took ice skating lessons alongside her daughters and taught them how to cross country ski. She was always on the move, whether she was hiking, dancing, playing Mahjong, or attending a local play or concert.
Daughter of the late Francis J. and Mary (Cooley) Bentz and sister of the late John C. Bentz and Mary Bentz Stratton, she is survived by her husband of 55 years, H. Sonmez Atesoglu, her four daughters and their husbands: Aylin and Luke Mazurak of Grand Junction, CO, Suzan and Michael Brassard of New Paltz, NY, Felice and Jonathan Russell of West Hartford, CT, Denise and Charlie Burckmyer of Marblehead, MA, as well as brother and sister-in-law Francis J. Jr. and Mary Jane Bentz of Waleska, GA, and two sisters and one brother-in-law: Eileen and Alan Schuetz of High Bridge, NJ, and Anne Maco of Flemington, NJ. Jane also leaves behind her eleven beloved grandchildren that lovingly referred to her as Mimi and Grandma Jane: Joshua, Sophie, Ella, Samantha, Amelia, Chloe, Beckett, Alice, Miles, Larsen, and Calvin.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on May 30th at 10:00 in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Potsdam with Rev. Joseph Giroux, celebrating. Burial will follow in Bayside Cemetery, Potsdam.