Jane Bakker

Jane Bakker ObituaryJane Bakker, 90, of Torrington, Connecticut, passed away peacefully at her condo
with family by her side on January 24, 2025. She was born on October 13, 1934, in
New Castle, Pennsylvania, and was predeceased by her beloved youngest son, Paul
Michalski, in 1989. Jane is survived by her three daughters and one son: Diane
Carlone (64) of Princeton, Illinois, Lisa Crowley (61) of Torrington, Connecticut,
Theresa Bobola (56) of Clarksville, Virginia, and Mark Michalski (60) of Poland,
NY. She also leaves behind her sons-in-law Mario Carlone, Kevin Crowley, and
Kenny Bobola, as well as her cherished grandchildren: Paul, Heather, Nicole, and
Jessica Carlone; Nicholas and Matthew Crowley; and Meghan, Jesse, Kenny,
Bobola and Chelsea Bobola Rolon. She was deeply loved and will be greatly
missed by all who knew her.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at Thurston Rowe
Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield, Connecticut, from 5p-7p. The
family kindly asks that attendees wear a shade of burgundy or red to honor Jane's
vibrant spirit. This will be a time of remembrance and joy-Jane wanted everyone
to share a story or memory of her life. Theresa will be providing the eulogy. In lieu
of flowers, memorial donations in Jane's honor may be made to the Closer to Free
Fund for Smilow Cancer Hospital, which is available online at
https://diy.ynhh.org/campaign/In-Memory-of-Jane-Bakker.
Jane was a dedicated and accomplished professional whose career spanned over 30
years in the publishing industry. Her work left a lasting impact, particularly
through her role as Communications Director at the Housatonic Valley
Association, a nonprofit environmental group, where she served for 34 years.
Jane's efforts in publishing were far-reaching, from redesigning newsletters and
producing marketing materials to overseeing editorial, graphic design, and
advertising. She was a key figure in managing public relations campaigns, such as
the highly successful press coverage of the river-long canoe trip that attracted
attention from 14 newspapers, with a circulation of 380,000.
Her experience in publishing was not confined to the nonprofit sector. Jane was
also the publisher of ConnStruction, a bimonthly magazine for the Connecticut
Construction Industry Association. There, she increased advertising revenue by
25% and helped bring the publication back on track after significant delays. Jane
also launched Northwest Hills, a regional magazine for northwest Connecticut,
where she managed all aspects of the business, from content creation to sales and
circulation.
Throughout her career, Jane worked as a reporter, editor, and publisher, gaining
recognition for her exceptional editorial work. She served as City Editor, Regional
Editor, and Reporter at the Winsted Evening Citizen, where she received a special
citation in the First Amendment category of the 1977 Scripps-Howard Foundation
national competition. She was also known for her ability to expand the coverage of
local news, tripling the town news section and increasing circulation.
In addition to her impressive publishing career, Jane was committed to community
service. She served as Secretary of the Board of Directors for Artwell Gallery, Inc.
and held leadership positions with organizations such as the Stillwater
Condominium Association, the Torrington Inland Wetlands Commission, and
Prime Time House in Torrington. Her dedication to environmental issues and
community welfare was evident throughout her life.
Jane was a lifelong learner who participated in numerous seminars and continued
to improve her professional skills in areas such as time management, advertising,
graphic design, and website management. She was known for her work ethic, her
leadership abilities, and her commitment to delivering quality work until she was
89! Outside of her professional accomplishments, Jane was an avid painter. She
found great joy in expressing herself through art, and her paintings brought beauty
and color to her life and the lives of those around her.
Above all, Jane was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She took great pride
in her family, and her grandchildren brought her immense joy. Her warmth, sense
of humor, and devotion to those she loved will be remembered by all who had the
privilege of knowing her.
Jane's family extends heartfelt thanks to all those who have offered support
throughout the years. Her memory will live on in the hearts of her children,
grandchildren, and the many individuals whose lives she touched through her work
and service.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Jane, please visit our .
Jane Bakker, 90, of Torrington, Connecticut, passed away peacefully at her condo
with family by her side on January 24, 2025. She was born on October 13, 1934, in
New Castle, Pennsylvania, and was predeceased by her beloved youngest son, Paul
Michalski, in 1989. Jane is survived by her three daughters and one son: Diane
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