Jane Donato

Jane Donato, daughter of John and Jean Emel, was born in Renovo, Pennsylvania, on November 23, 1932. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother John Emel, and her husband, Michael “Buddy” Donato.

She is survived by her three sons: Dean Donato and his wife Genie, along with their daughter Taylor; Mark Donato; and Scott Donato and his wife Nicole, along with their daughters Regan and Camden.

Jane graduated from Renovo High School in 1950, where she was active in the band, orchestra, and chorus, playing the clarinet. She earned a full clarinet scholarship to attend the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. She later received a Masters of Music Education from Penn State University at a time when only 20 percent of the student body were women.

Jane began her teaching career in Baltimore, Maryland, and McLean, Virginia. She later taught at Hershey Junior High and High School in Pennsylvania as a choral and orchestra director. It was at Hershey where she met her husband of 57 years, and together they were known by students and friends as the “beautiful musical couple.” She took great pride in organizing dozens of musical performances at the Hershey Theatre during the Christmas season.

After starting a family, Jane stepped away from her career to raise her three sons, fostering a household defined by reading and song. She later brought that same passion when she returned to teaching at Lower Dauphin School District, helming the choral at the Hummelstown Elementary schools. Under her direction, her award-winning choruses became a staple at state PMEA conferences and even shared the stage at Hersheypark Arena with music legends John Denver, Kenny Rogers, and Lorrie Morgan.

Following a 1995 retirement from public teaching, Jane moved to Carlisle, where she opened a private studio specializing in clarinet, voice, and piano. Her students frequently earned spots in prestigious regional and state ensembles, and Jane remained a fixture in the local theater community, cheering them on from the audience. She enjoyed traveling and listening to her favorite musical performers, including Michael Chance, The Statler Brothers, and classical music, particularly Bach and the Baroque era.

Jane was a devoted member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Carlisle and St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Seal Beach, California.

The arrangements for Jane Donato have been finalized. A viewing will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Hoffman Funeral & Cremation, 2020 W. Trindle Road, Carlisle, PA 17013. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Saint Patrick Church on Marsh Drive. Interment at Westminster Cemetery will follow immediately after the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Jane’s Peabody Scholarship to support undergraduate clarinet students, found here: https://bit.ly/jdpsfund or by using the following QR code: