Jane A. Mills

85, of Hockessin, DE, and formerly of Ellicott City, MD, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2024 surrounded by her children at her home.
She was born in New York, NY, the daughter of Dr. Theodore and Frances (Aderer) Pick. From an early age, she was drawn to science and medicine. She was a 1956 graduate of The Bronx High School of Science and received a B.A. in Chemistry from Western Reserve University in 1960. She earned her Medical Lab Specialist Certification at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and then went on to attend the Blood Bank Technology/Transfusion Medicine Program at Johns Hopkins University. Her work experience included numerous research and hospital labs, and she ultimately retired from the American Red Cross after many years of dedication. She loved her career, but mostly cherished the connections she made along the way that remained in her life beyond retirement.
Jane was known for her loyalty to the friends she picked up in each new chapter of her life. She loved the relationships she made, and if you were lucky enough to know her, she considered you and your family friends for life. She was an avid sports fan, especially baseball (New York Giants & Cleveland Indians) and football (Baltimore Ravens season ticket holder). When she wasn't reading or knitting (or doing both simultaneously), she loved traveling with her friends and family. She also became notorious for baking and sharing her handmade Sally Lunn bread during the holidays. Throughout her life she volunteered her time at women's shelters and blood drives and loved to make blankets and hats for the giving tree every Christmas.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Alice Turner. She is survived by her three children, Sarah Voytko of Fayetteville, NC; Stacey Carroll, and her husband, Michael, of Wilmington, DE; and Jason Mills, and his wife, Lynne, of Greenville, NC; as well as five grandchildren that she adored, Nolan, Moira, Laura, Maureen, and Laney; along with many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial celebration will be held Wednesday, August 21st at 11:00 a.m. at Cokesbury Village Auditorium (726 Loveville, Rd., Hockessin DE). A reception will immediately follow in the Atrium. A private interment of her ashes will be held at a separate date in the future.
The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the amazing staff at Cokesbury Village and Acts Signature Hospice who have stewarded an engaging place to retire, as well as provided loving care for Jane over the past year. In lieu of other memorial gestures, please consider making a donation to one of Jane's favorite charities. Johns Hopkins Children's Center, the Cokesbury Village ACTS Employee Scholarship Fund, or The American Red Cross.
Johns Hopkins Children's Center,
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns-hopkins-childrens-center/ways-to-give and
Cokesbury Village ACTS Employee Scholarship Fund, https://www.actsretirement.org/acts-benevolence/acts-legacy-foundation-ways-to-give/j-mark-vanderbeck-memorial-scholarship-fund/ and
The American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-to4.html/?adobe_mc_sdid=SDID%3D36E540C64DD0116B-543F5ECDD590E227%7CMCORGID%3D723A22C757518E2C7F000101@AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1720027218&adobe_mc_ref=https:%2F%2Fwww.redcross.org%2F,