Jane Sweet

Jane Goodman Sweet

Jane Goodman Sweet, a longtime resident of New Canaan, died Sunday, Jan 12, in Springfield, Va She was 88

Born and raised in New York City, she graduated cum laude with a major in French from Wellesley College in 1946 For several years she was a bilingual secretary in international law and banking in Manhattan When The Ford Foundation opened an office in New York, she was one of the first people to be employed Starting as secretary to the director of the New York office, she later became supervisor of staff relations

In 1958 she married Joseph C Sweet, a New York attorney with IBM and they moved with their two children to New Canaan in 1963 She became active in the community at East School where she was president of the PTA, and St Mark's Church where she taught Sunday school and served on numerous committees including as chairman of the Alter Flower Guild

She was a publicity chairman for the New Canaan Garden Center and the Women's Republican Club She served on the board of the Southern Connecticut Wellesley Club and was a governor of the New Canaan Field Club

While her children were in high school, she worked part-time at the New Canaan Book Shop Subsequently, she became director of development for the Lapham Wing of the New Canaan Library, and later of the New Canaan Inn When the Inn opened, she joined the board and served as vice president and chairman of public relations She also volunteered at the Norwalk Hospital and became president of its volunteer board More recently, she played with the Duo Pianists of the Darien Community Association and was the publicity chairman for that group

For 10 years she was a justice of the peace, officiating at marriages in New Canaan, Darien and Stamford She and her husband were members of the Country Club of New Canaan

Her husband, Joseph, predeceased her She is survived by two daughters, Mrs Grace (Gay) Bitter of Springfield, Va, and her husband, Kenneth, and Mrs Pamela (Pam) Sweet of Beverly, Mass, and her husband, Bennett She had five grandchildren: Colin Bitter, Kristin Bitter Taylor, and Sophie, Phoebe and Carly Blau

A private memorial service to commit her ashes will be held at St Mark's Church

Memorial contributions may be made to Norwalk Hospital Foundation, 34 Maple Street, Norwalk, CT 06856; or Staying Put, PO Box 484, New Canaan, CT 06840