Jane Piper

Jane M. Piper, better known as Penny, passed away in Chicago, IL on September
6, 2023. Born on January 24, 1942, Penny was the eldest of four girls. Raised in
Chicago, she loved spending her summers at her parents' home in Browns Lake,
Burlington, Wisconsin.
Penny and Dan Hartnett started their own family young, raising 5 children in her
hometown of Chicago. She followed in her own moms footsteps, joining the
Chicago Public School System and working as an administrator during the 1970's
and 1980's. Penny moved to Minnesota in the 90's, where she earned her degree
from the University of Minnesota, eventually starting a career at the school. Penny
returned to Chicago to work for the Chicago Board of Education.
A lover of English murder mysteries, Penny spent every day of her retirement
enveloped in books. She frequented the library and was incredibly passionate about
reading. In addition, she was always up for a good debate about Chicago politics
and was incredibly proud of her time volunteering for the Obama campaign. Penny
always took the opportunity to travel whenever possible. A lifelong animal lover, she
believed in caring for all animals. Eventually, she settled in the Peterson Park area
of the city and could always be found snuggling with her beloved cat, Josie, and her
book.
Penny is survived by her children, Daniel Hartnett (Kathy), Michael Hartnett
(Jacqui), Tom Hartnett (Silvia), Chris Hartnett (Gina), and her grandchildren,
Annastasia Hartnett, Caraline Hartnett (Winston), Scott Hartnett (Katelin), Ethan Hartnett, Shane
Hartnett, Mike Hartnett, Megan Hartnett, and Brandon Stillman. She also leaves
behind her sister, Pam O'Connell. Penny was preceded in death by her sisters, Patricia Heaney
and Margaret "Peggy" Stich, her daughter, Teresa (Tracy) Stillman, and her grandson, Andrew Stillman.