Jane M. Sherry

Jane is definitely pulling a fast one on us today (Monday) as we get together to write her obituary. We believe she is enjoying herself throwing all this wind our way and the whiteout snow squalls. And why not since we are all family, friends, soft and hardwater sailors.

Jane was born to W. Lorne Sherry and Joan Sherry in Mount Clemens. She was the youngest of six siblings. She went to St. Thecla Catholic School for grade school, then to Clintondale High School where she was in the National Honor Society. She played flute in the band and "sat first chair" much like her sister Debbie.

She went on to Macomb County Community College pursuing her associate degree and then went to court recording school which was inspired by our mother. It may come as no surprise that during her early career she worked for Boston Sails and North Sails. Then onto Compuware (which transferred her to California), BCBS of Michigan and then General Motors.

Jane, like her siblings, had the profound privilege of growing up at Crescent Sail Yacht Club. She participated in the Junior Sailing Program where she did very well with John McAllister as skipper in the Flying Juniors. She was also a member at Bayview Yacht Club where she made lifelong friends. While there, she was a US Sailing Club PRO. Some of her best sailing accomplishments were racing the 1985 Port Huron to Mackinac Race and finishing it with an all-girl crew on JOSS, a Tartan 10. That race was well known because 30 boats withdrew from that race due to conditions and one boat still lies in Lake Huron. Later she raced to the Caribbean from the East Coast sailing the Caribbean 1500.

Jane was a zealous advocate for the sport of iceboating serving as secretary of the IDNIYRA from 1996 - 2000. Jane, along with her sisters Debbie and Loretta, raised the level of DN iceboat racing around the world running and scoring DN World, North American, Regional and club racing regattas. Jane was invited to Europe to help run the European and World Championships. She brought Paul Goodwin's DN registration and scoring program over to Europe and taught them how to use it.

Jane was predeceased by her parents, Lorne and Joan, her brother Stephan and sister Deborah Sherry Goodwin (Paul). She is survived by her sister Loretta Rehe (Jim), brothers Kevin (Allison) and Ron, "Second Mom" Helen Sherry (a true blessing) and her "sister of choice" Ursula Perron whom we deeply adore. Nephews Michael Rehe (Libbi), Daniel Rehe (Kelley), niece CJ Sherry, nephews Trevor Sherry and Griffin Sherry (Michaela), great niece Ariana Rehe, great nephew Elijah Sherry as well as many cousins, aunts and uncles.

A private family service will be held with inurnment at Resurrection Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be published at a later date.

Jane, we will miss you as you were certainly a force to be reckoned with. We wish you Fair Winds and Lots of Smooth Black Ice. We Love You Dearly…

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:

Junior Sailing

Crescent Sailing Association (501-C3)

276 Lakeshore Rd

Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

Or

Solanus Casey Center

1780 Mt. Elliot St.

Detroit, MI 48207